The Political Week in Photos

President Joe Biden defended the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan after the Taliban swept into the capital Kabul as the military and government crumbled.

There were chaotic scenes as U.S. troops at Kabul airport strove to evacuate Americans as well as Afghan civilians fearful of retaliation for working with foreign militaries.

Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake, and massive fires continued to wreak destruction in the U.S. and Canada, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced parliamentary elections.

These were among the topics of this week’s most compelling political images.