Former US president Donald Trump has been whisked off the stage at an election rally in Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
A local prosecutor said the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead.
The Secret Service said in a statement that “the former President is safe”.
Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview that the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed.
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The presumptive Republican nominee was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when bangs started ringing out.
Trump could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his neck.
There appeared to be blood on his face.
He quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people.
Someone can be heard saying near the microphone at Trump’s lectern, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” as agents tackled the former president.
They piled atop him to shield him with their bodies, as is their training protocol, as other agents took up positions on stage to search for the threat.
The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.
The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who was sitting in the front row, told Politico that it appeared someone behind him was shot.
“All the sudden shots started to crack, someone behind me appears to have been shot,” McCormick said. “There’s lots of blood, and then the Secret Service were all over President Trump.”
His motorcade left the venue. His condition was not immediately known.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage.
Local officers described the area as a crime scene.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident, the White House said.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, posted a photo on X of Trump, his fist raised and his face bloody in front of an American flag, with the words: “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, that he was praying for Trump.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a statement on X that he had been briefed on the situation and Pennsylvania state police were on hand at the rally site.
“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” he said.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Ohio Senator JD Vance, the three men on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president.
Rubio shared an image taken as Trump was escorted off stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face along with the words “God protected President Trump”.
Former president George W Bush said in a statement: “Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life. And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a post on X that his “thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump” and expressed thanks “for the decisive law enforcement response”.
