Evan Vucci

Early life and education

Vucci was born in Olney, Maryland, on June 15, 1977. His mother was a secretary and his father was a police officer.

Vucci enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, in 1995 on a path to commercial photography. Whilst there he attended a lecture given by photojournalist Michael Williamson. In the lecture, Williamson showed his work and spoke of his travels all around the world while on staff with The Washington Post. Vucci was struck by the photographs and life Williamson had lived and changed his major to focus on photojournalism. While still enrolled at Rochester Institute of Technology, Vucci photographed sports for Reuters.

Vucci graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in professional photographic illustration in 2000.

Career

After graduating from college, Vucci moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and took a 30-hour-a-week position at The Fayetteville Observer. After about three months, Vucci realized that life at a small-town paper was not for him. Vucci took a job in Sydney, Australia, to work for the International Olympic Committee as a photo manager during the 2000 Summer Olympics. While working in Sydney, Vucci met then Associated Press photographer Doug Mills, who would help him get his foot in the door at the Associated Press as a freelance photojournalist.

In late 2003, Vucci accepted a position at the Associated Press. In 2008, Vucci made several visits to Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, profiling soldiers and their stories. His primary focus was a Cavalry Scout Platoon from Killer Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (3 ACR). He spent several weeks embedded with the platoon filming their patrols and lives spent at a Combat Outpost in Western Mosul. Many of those soldiers were wounded and three were killed.

Notable images

Shoeing of George W. Bush

Main article: George W. Bush shoe-throwing incident

One of Vucci's most iconic shots came from Iraq while he was working for Associated Press. On Sunday, December 14, 2008, Vucci was at a joint press conference between United States President George W. Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Malik in Baghdad, capital city of Iraq. The joint press conference was to announce the signing of a status of forces agreement, which allowed the United States military to remain in Iraq. During the press conference, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at United States President George W. Bush.

George Floyd protests

In 2020, Vucci covered the George Floyd protests for the Associated Press. Serving as the chief photographer for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., he was part of the AP reporting team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography.

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania

Main article: Donald Trump raised-fist photographs

On July 13, 2024, Vucci photographed former President and Republican Party nominee Donald Trump being led off stage after surviving an assassination attempt, with Trump's fist raised in the air and blood on the right side of his face. The image was shared widely on social media and used as a cover image for Time.

Marco Rubio passing a note to Donald Trump on Middle East peace deal

On October 8, 2025, Vucci caught Secretary of State Marco Rubio passing a note to Donald Trump hinting a Middle East peace deal was near. Moments later, Trump told the room: "We're very close to a deal in the Middle East."

References

References

1. (July 15, 2024). "The story behind the powerful photo of Trump that could change the country". [[Poynter Institute]].
2. (July 2024). "Evan Vucci: An Unfinished Photo".
3. "Evan Vucci - 2021 Winner".
4. "Alumnus joins ever-growing list of RIT graduates to win Pulitzer Prize".
5. "RIT Alumnus wins Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography".
6. "Associated Press News".
7. "Shoe-throwing journalist's trial postponed - Conflict in Iraq". [[NBC News]].
8. "President Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Maliki Sign the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement".
9. (July 13, 2024). "Secret Service rushes Trump offstage after popping noises heard at his Pennsylvania rally".
10. (July 13, 2024). "Trump injured but 'fine' after attempted assassination at rally, shooter and one attendee are dead".
11. (15 July 2024). "'The job is all about anticipation': behind the lens of the defining photo of the Trump rally shooting". The Guardian.
12. Loh, Matthew. (14 July 2024). "The man who photographed a bloodied and defiant Trump says he 'knew it was a moment in American history that had to be documented'".
13. (July 13, 2024). "Photo of bloodied Trump fist pumping immediately spotlighted by his allies".
14. Wallace-Wells, Benjamin. (July 13, 2024). "The Attempt on Donald Trump's Life and an Image That Will Last".
15. Cortellessa, Eric. (July 13, 2024). "Eyewitness Accounts From the Trump Rally Shooting".
16. https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-whisper-and-a-note-photos-reveal-moment-trump-was-informed-gaza-deal-sealed
17. https://x.com/AboutTheAP/status/1976293245874217444