The picture of Donald Trump thrusting his fist in defiance from amidst a huddle of Secret Service agents, while blood streaks his face and the American flag flutters overhead, is already canonical.

The epic snapshot, taken moments after a would-be assassin’s bullet grazed the former president’s ear, is so perfect that it almost looks choreographed - clearly, it was not - like it was pulled from a Hollywood set like it is destined to become a bronze statute one day. 

What the picture means exactly will vary from person to person, given that Trump is probably the single most polarizing figure in US public life.

The picture’s meaning will evolve based on what happens next—at the GOP convention, on election day, and in the years following.

But no matter what the picture ultimately means, it will become a fixture of American historical/political photography.

History in the Making for Donald Trump and America

Trump’s true talent is for identifying what people want and giving it to them. In the past, he has been derided as a carnival barker – a fair insult at times – but he is also undoubtedly a showman with a well-honed showman’s instinct.

Indeed, he also has what many would call 'spatial awareness,' understanding his place at the moment and being able to make the most of it. His instincts for what to do or say in those moments are time-tested. 

Most people, having been shot at eight times with a high-powered rifle, having been hit with one of the bullets, having been rushed by a swarm of Secret Service agents, likely would have had the instinct to get out of sight, get to cover as soon as possible – especially given the explicit instructions, from the Secret Service agents, to move out. But Trump instructed his security detail to wait.

At that point, he thrust his fist into the air, eliciting cheers from the crowd—leading to the iconic photograph now in question above—and capping a sequence of events that will be in the history books forever 

Sympathy for Donald Trump: A Reboot of His Image Now Coming Soon? 

Will the assassination attempt, and all-related photography, mark the exact moment in time that Trump finally became a sympathetic figure?

That will depend on Trump’s behavior in the weeks and months to follow. Precedent suggests that Trump won’t be able to resist the urge to sling mud, to turn up the temperature, to be un-presidential in retaliation.

But then again, getting shot and avoiding death by a millimeter can change anyone. And Trump has already rewritten his GOP convention speech as a call for unity. If Trump can speak convincingly and persistently in more gracious terms, then the picture could mark the moment that Trump finally became a sympathetic figure.

Snapshot of a Watershed

The photograph likely marks the exact moment that the 2024 election became a lost cause for the Democrats.

Granted, Biden’s debate two weeks ago may have doomed the Democrat’s chance of winning the election – but something about Trump getting shot and then pumping his fist in the air with perfect defiance screams landslide electoral victory.

If the Trump campaign can slingshot the goodwill the assassination has garnered into sustained momentum, then the election is over. But either way, the photograph of Trump with his fist in the air will be with us long after the election has been decided.  

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image Credit: Fair Use/Social Media Screenshot.