An image of the Trump flag has been added to the collection of photos that symbolize American determination, bridging the political gap.

An image of former President Donald J. Trump surviving an assassination attempt on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, has quickly gained popularity as a cultural sensation.

The former president, now the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, rose to his feet with blood on his face after a bullet missed a fatal headshot by mere millimeters. He raised his fist in defiant triumph beneath an American flag in front of a blue, cloudless sky.

Evan Vucci, an AP photographer, captured the scene almost perfectly in his frame.

The photograph of the American flag being raised on the moon drew numerous comparisons to iconic patriotic images, such as Joe Rosenthal's photograph of Marines raising the flag over Iwo Jima and Emanuel Leutze's painting of "Washington Crossing the Delaware."

According to Owen Conner, chief curator at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia, all great flag photos or images share artistic composition.

The Iwo Jima flag in the iconic photo is also part of Conner's collection.

"The flag flying is stunning, but it's challenging to photograph. When captured perfectly, it evokes emotions."

"What all these great flag photos or images have in common is artistic composition."

The most memorable images of the flag, he said, are not only symbolic and patriotic, but also have the composition that makes them pieces of art.

Eight flag images in American history have inspired the nation with their patriotic and artistic power.

2024: Trump rises after surviving assassination attempt

In November, Trump is the GOP nominee and the leading candidate to win the White House, while President Biden appears to be experiencing cognitive decline and a rebellion is brewing within the Democrat Party.

On Saturday, an emotionally heroic scene occurred that outshone politics, according to presidential historian Craig Shirley.

"Shirley, the author of six biographies of President Ronald Reagan, stated in a phone interview with Planet Chronicle Digital on Monday that the photo showcasing strength is inviting and inspires people to follow the leader."

Shirley stated that the image of someone facing near-death and then rising beneath an American flag "touches people's hearts, their patriotic hearts."

"The image will be historic; it already is."

2001: Americans raise the flag after the 9/11 terror attacks

Americans instinctively turned to the Stars & Stripes as their first symbol of hope following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. They continue to do so annually to remember those who perished that day.

On September 11, 2001, three New York City firefighters raised an American flag at Ground Zero, with the red, white, and blue flag standing out against the gray burning wreckage of the World Trade Center. The next day, rescue workers hung a massive American flag over the side of the Pentagon, with its façade covered in soot. Both images became viral sensations.

From coast to coast, Americans proudly displayed the Old Glory flag, whether on their homes, cars, clothing, or hats. In the aftermath of the terror attacks, Walmart reported a massive increase in sales, with 450,000 flags sold in just 48 hours.

"After Sept. 11, Americans experienced a shared sense of anguish, but in the following months, there was a rare spirit of public unity, according to a Pew Research Center report from 2021."

1980: ‘Miracle on Ice’ ignites patriotism, ends ‘malaise’

In the late 1970s, the national malaise that affected the national mood was broken by an unexpected surge of patriotism in an unlikely location: a hockey rink in Lake Placid, New York.

The Soviet Union was defeated by the American men's hockey team in the 1980 Winter Olympics, resulting in a 4-3 victory that was immediately dubbed the Miracle on Ice.

In Lake Placid and across the country, Americans showed a renewed sense of patriotism after the U.S. goaltender Jim Craig was wrapped in an American flag by a fan following the team's gold medal win over Finland.

1970: ‘Patton’ stirs patriotism in divided United States

In 1970, the Vietnam War caused anger and division to boil over, resulting in the shooting of four students by Ohio National Guard troops during a protest at Kent State College (now University) in Ohio.

In the midst of the national cultural upheaval that year, the American flag became a potent symbol of unity in popular culture.

In the opening scene of the 1970 biopic "Patton," George C. Scott delivered a patriotic monologue with an American flag filling the entire screen behind him, portraying the celebrated World War II general George Patton.

The American flag emerged as a powerful unifying force in pop culture.

"In the opening monologue, Patton declared, 'Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. We play to win all the time.'"

"Patton" won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, while Scott won the Best Actor honors but declined the award.

1969: Buzz Aldrin plants Old Glory on the moon

No other country has achieved the feat of landing humans on the moon, with 12 men doing so in six Apollo missions from 1969 to 1972. As a result, the United States is the only nation whose citizens have planted their national colors on another terrestrial body.

On July 20, 1969, during the first moon landing mission, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted the first flag on the moon.

A photo of Aldrin looking at the flag in the gray moonscape and darkness of space was captured by Armstrong, symbolizing American triumph in the space race and showcasing exceptionalism.

1945: U.S. Marines raise the American flag over Iwo Jima

During World War II, six unidentified boys were photographed triumphantly raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi, amidst the chaos of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Conner, the curator at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, told Planet Chronicle Digital that the photograph became viral for the first time.

The image made an immediate impact on the war effort.

The image was transmitted to the United States via a primitive fax machine. Newspaper editors across the country saw the image and, recognizing its significance, placed it on their front pages.

The war bond drive raised $26 billion in six weeks due to the impact of the image on the war effort.

The significance of the image is immeasurable: It is widely regarded as the most influential photo in American history and possibly the greatest wartime photo.

1814: ‘Our flag was still there’ over Fort McHenry

The American flag flying triumphantly over Fort McHenry on the morning of Sept. 13, 1814, was not captured by photo or painting as Francis Scott Key saw it.

The scene and his reaction to it continue to shape our national heritage and daily culture.

In Baltimore Harbor, a US lawyer remained on a British ship overnight, working to secure the release of American prisoners. This occurred just three weeks after the British had seized Washington, D.C., destroyed the White House and U.S. Capitol, and unleashed a devastating firestorm on Fort McHenry.

The young U.S. was on the verge of being overtaken by its former rulers.

As dawn broke, Key felt a surge of patriotism when he saw that our flag was still standing.

The national anthem reimagines the image witnessed in artwork countless times.

1776/1851: ‘Washington Crossing the Delaware’

On Christmas night 1776, George Washington led a daring raid on Hessian troops, saving the American Revolution and ultimately reshaping world history.

According to historian Kristopher White of the American Battlefield Trust, this military crossing occurred under extremely challenging conditions, as he shared with Planet Chronicle Digital.

The attack altered the outcome of the war, but it was not accurately depicted in popular culture until German-American artist Emanuel Letuze painted a heroic oil-on-canvas depiction in 1851.

The painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware" has been criticized for being inaccurate and overly dramatic. It is unlikely that the general was standing tall and proud on the freezing night, or that James Madison was holding the flag with care.

Despite its size, the painting accurately portrays the bravery of the raid and honors its lasting influence on American history.