From Trump shooting to Biden dropping out: 8 days upending US politics

A man holds a sign showing his appreciation for US President Joe Biden along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 21, 2024. [AFP]

If a week is a long time in politics, the last eight days of the US presidential campaign have proved a drama of epic proportions.

Joe Biden's shock decision Sunday to drop out of the 2024 presidential race capped a head-spinning week that began with the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, and has left Americans reeling.

Here is how the week unfolded:

Saturday: Trump assassination bid

Republican candidate Donald Trump survives an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, when a 20-year-old on a nearby rooftop opened fire.

Pictures of the bloodied candidate defiantly shaking his fist as Secret Service agents rush him from the stage become iconic, galvanizing his supporters.

Monday: Republican National Convention begins

Trump appears before a roaring crowd at the Republican National Convention, his ear -- wounded in the assassination attempt -- covered by a white bandage. He names Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate.

Wednesday: Pressure on Biden increases

Biden's support continues to ebb following his disastrous June 27 debate with Trump, as Democratic fears grow over the 81-year-old's age and ability to beat Trump at the polls -- then serve another four years.

A top Democratic lawmaker, Adam Schiff, joins a fast-growing list of party officials urging the president to step aside, praising him but saying "our nation is at a crossroads."

Biden is also diagnosed with Covid, forced to step off the campaign trail and retreat to his Delaware home to recover.

In an interview released the same day, he says he could reconsider his election bid if a "medical condition" emerged.

Thursday: Pelosi, Obama, Trump

New signs of waning Democrat support emerge: Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had worked to resolve the growing crisis, is said to tell House Democrats the president might be persuaded soon to exit the race.

And Barack Obama, the former president who was once Biden's boss, reportedly tells allies the president should "seriously consider the viability of his candidacy."

In Milwaukee, Trump accepts his nomination at the Republican National Convention, promising an enraptured crowd they can expect an "incredible victory" in November.

Friday: 'Stakes are high'

With the list of lawmakers urging Biden to drop out reaching 25, he again insists he will stay in the race, saying, "The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win."

Saturday: 'Bullet for democracy'

In his first rally since the attempted assassination, Trump tells a rapt crowd in swing state Michigan "I took a bullet for democracy."

He mocks Democrats' leadership crisis, saying, "They have no idea who their candidate is."

Sunday: Biden's big decision

Sunday begins with key Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat-aligned independent, joining the chorus urging Biden to step aside.

Two polls bring grim news for the president, one showing sharply dropping support in battleground state Michigan, the other showing Trump enjoying his highest favorability ratings in years.

At 1.46 pm Washington time (1746 GMT) Biden posts a stunning statement on social media announcing he is ending his candidacy, saying it is "in the best interest of my party and the country."

He endorses Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's new nominee, as top Democrats such as Bill and Hillary Clinton echo their support.

Trump declares on social media that Biden was "not fit to run" and "is certainly not fit to serve." Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson insists that Biden "must resign" as president "immediately."

The Democratic Party chairman announces there will be a "transparent and orderly" to pick someone to run in Biden's place.