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The attempted assassination of Donald Trump, and the media coverage that followed, is believed to have marked a turning point in the presidential campaign - an event that would not only affect the upcoming election but also the political future of the United States. Shortly after the shooting, the Republican presidential candidate for 2024 defiantly shouted 'Fight, fight, fight!' as he was escorted off the stage. The image taken just seconds later captures an unusual and candid moment of vulnerability in a campaign otherwise characterized by power and strength. The image shows members of the United States Secret Service helping Donald Trump off the stage, seconds after a bullet from an assassination attempt grazed his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA.

World Press Photo 2025: Here are this year's regional winning images

World Press Photo is the competition that annually highlights the best photojournalistic and documentary images from the past year. This year's jury has now selected the winning images.

Calle Rosenqvist
CALLE@KAMERABILD.SE
Published

A total of 3,778 photographers from 141 countries participated with 59,320 photographs in the World Press Photo. The jury consisted of 31 professionals in the field and has evaluated all competition images in a cultural, political, and social context.

The jury has now chosen its regional winning images in the competing regions of North and Central America, Europe, Africa, South America, Western Central Southern Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region and Oceania.

The final winners of The World Press Photo of the Year and the two finalists will be announced on April 17, 2025.

Anhelina, 6 years old, is traumatized and suffers from panic attacks after being forced to flee her village. Here she lies in bed in her new home in Borshchivkka, Ukraine.

Europe

"Beyond the Trenches" / Florian Bachmeier

The ongoing conflict in Anhelina's home village near Kupiansk (a frontline city in Russia's invasion of Ukraine) forced Anhelina's family to seek shelter, and they now live with her grandmother, Larisa, in Borshchivka, 95 kilometers from Kupiansk. Her mother lives and works in Kharkiv, about an hour's drive away. The photographer wanted to highlight children who have grown up surrounded by violence - their innocence wounded, but their inner strength endures as they adapt to a new life.

Jury's comment:

“The winning images are those that make us stop, or at least pause, and reflect - instead of just scrolling on to the next thing. Many of the images transcend the moment they were taken and become symbols of something the jury deemed to be of social, political, and historical significance.”

A Ukrainian man from the Luhansk region - conscripted to fight for the Russian-backed separatist forces that later merged with the Russian army, lies injured in a field hospital set up in an underground wine cellar near Bakhmut. His left leg and arm were later amputated. The image was taken in Donbas, Ukraine.

"Underground Field Hospital" / Nanna Heitmann (Magnum Photos, The New York Times)

The man was called to fight for the Russian-backed, separatist “republic” of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on February 22, 2022, two days before Russia's full-scale invasion of the country. He was one of thousands of men mobilized in a similar way. Later, Russia unilaterally annexed the territory, and the militia that called him up was integrated into a unit within the Russian army. Russia has occupied large parts of eastern Ukraine, and the city of Bakhmut has been the site of some of the war's bloodiest battles.

Jury's comment:

"The jury saw this as an image with strong compositional power and complex symbolic weight - an image that raises thought-provoking questions about nationality and political divides. The location, an underground winery turned into a field hospital, adds another visual layer for the viewer trying to understand the image. The injury and subsequent amputation of both the left arm and leg testify to the physical toll of war."

Mika, 21, has waited nearly two years for a first consultation at a gender identity clinic. In the meantime, he has paid for his top surgery and hormone treatment himself. In May 2024, he finally had his first consultation. Rotterdam, Netherlands.

"Mika" / Prins de Vos

Long waiting times for the first meeting in gender-affirming care (support for a person to live in accordance with their gender identity) are a reality both in the Netherlands and globally. The strains on the well-being of non-binary and transgender people can be profound, leading to frustration, isolation, and despair. The photographer wants to highlight these issues, increase understanding of how waiting affects people's lives, and encourage a more inclusive and compassionate approach to gender-affirming care.

The jury's comment:

"The jury was moved by the portrait's beauty and strength - it is direct, yet still and meditative. The photographer's commitment to documenting the long and uncertain waiting times for gender-affirming surgery brings both dignity and visibility to the subject. In a global political climate that increasingly dehumanizes and demonizes transgender people, it felt particularly important to highlight these experiences. The jury hopes the image will spark broader conversations about respect and recognition for trans communities."

"Maria" / Maria Abranches

Ana Maria Jeremias' life as a caregiver and domestic worker in Portugal reflects the experiences of countless women across Europe. She was trafficked from Angola to Portugal at the age of nine, lured by false promises of education, and has since spent over four decades working in other people's homes - work that has been crucial to their daily lives. By highlighting Ana Maria's story, the photographer aims to encourage reflection on privilege, while honoring her life - and the lives of so many women in similar situations.

The jury's comment:

"The jury found this project moving and deeply nuanced. The photographer managed to connect with her subject with respect and documented various moments from her daily life. Through these intimate frames, the photographer highlights telling details - symbolic reminders of the lingering consequences of Portugal's colonial past. The work prompts reflection on how this legacy still shapes today's social structures."

"Protests in Georgia" / Mikhail Tereshchenko (TASS Agency)

Citizens took to the streets across Georgia in November 2024, after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a four-year halt in talks on EU membership. This came after the European Parliament rejected Georgia's latest election, citing allegations of electoral fraud. In the capital Tbilisi, where thousands demonstrated, clashes broke out between police and protesters outside the parliament building. The protests continued despite a harsh crackdown on dissent in late December, when a law was passed criminalizing even symbolic acts of protest - such as publicly putting up stickers.

Jury's comment:

"The jury considered this an important global story documenting massive anti-government protests in Georgia, in a context of disputed elections, escalating tensions between pro-Russian and pro-EU politicians, and the reintroduction of the proposed 'foreign agents' law. The nighttime images highlight the use of fireworks as a new urban weapon and capture the dynamics of mass protests, raising questions about how democratic movements worldwide respond to increasingly militarized police forces."

"Democracy Dies in Darkness" / Rafael Heygster (Der Spiegel)

Germany's nationalist and anti-immigration party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which calls itself the “party of the little people,” made significant progress in 2024, achieving 20.8% of the votes in the national elections of 2025. During 2024, the photographer attended AfD rallies to examine and question how the far-right party presents itself. Far-right and populist political groups across Europe have proven adept at using new media to spread their ideologies. Opponents accuse them of amplifying disinformation, spreading division and hate, and endangering democracy.

The jury's comment:

"The jury found this story particularly significant for capturing the rise of populism in Germany and the broader political changes that claim to protect democracy while undermining it. The photographer achieves a rarity in political photography - subtly revealing the carefully crafted image of politicians trying to conceal their motives. Each image contains a distorted element, disrupting the surface and revealing the performative nature of the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). Judged just days before the German general elections, where AfD stood as the second largest candidate, the jury considered this work both timely and necessary."

"It Smells of Smoke at Home" / Aliona Kardash

Russia's effective ban on critical media and the suppression of anti-war protests have created an alternative reality with its own version of what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine - instead of a full-scale invasion. In this story, Aliona Kardash, born in Russia but now residing in Germany, reflects on the loss of a home and the love for people who believe in another version of reality. During a revisit to her hometown, Aliona tries to capture how the war changes us - and hold on to the belief that personal bonds are stronger than the forces that tear us apart.

"The jury perceived this long-term project as a deeply personal insight into the cracks that have emerged within Russian society since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine - and that reveal complexities often overlooked when Russia is viewed as a monolith. The photographer visually conveys her melancholy over the relationship with her family, affected by state propaganda, and grapples with the universal dilemma: how to preserve the bonds with those you love when they are shaped by a state's exercise of power. In a time where conflicts increasingly draw journalists into their own stories, this project reflects the richness of nuance that such narratives can contain - and captures a personal experience with global reach."

North and Central America

"Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump" / Jabin Botsford (The Washington Post)

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump, and the media coverage that followed, is believed to have marked a turning point in the presidential campaign - an event that would not only affect the upcoming election but also the political future of the United States. Shortly after the shooting, the Republican presidential candidate for 2024 defiantly shouted “Fight, fight, fight!” as he was escorted off the stage. The photo taken just seconds later captures an unusual and candid moment of vulnerability in a campaign otherwise characterized by power and strength. The image shows members of the United States Secret Service helping Donald Trump off the stage, seconds after a bullet from an assassination attempt grazed his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA.

Jury's comment:

"This image highlights the photographer's quick reflexes and decisive choice in capturing a critical moment. The photograph presents the main character in a different light and offers a parallel narrative to the more performative moment that dominated press coverage. By focusing on the fragility of life, the image speaks volumes in its subtlety. Placed within the broader history of political assassinations in the USA, the image carries particular significance - especially during an election year - and provides insight into a moment that may have shaped the political landscape."

South America

"Botafogo Fans: Pride and Glory" / André Coelho (EFE)

Africa

"Life Won’t Stop" / Mosab Abushama

Western, Central, and Southern Asia

"Drone Attacks in Beirut" / Murat Şengül (Anadolu Agency)

Asia-Pacific and Oceania

Korea Adoption Fraud" / Jae C. Hong (AP)

See more winning images at World Press Photo.

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