The assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump is a "horrific moment" for America and a "sobering reminder" of the threat that political violence poses to democracy in the country ahead of the high-stakes presidential election.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, identified as the suspect in today's attempted assassination of Donald Trump, lived about an hour away from where the shooting took place in Butler.

He reportedly graduated in 2022 from Bethel Park High School and received a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.

Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy today condemned the attack on former US President Donald Trump, who got hit on his ear during an attempt on his life at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

"We believe the fact that Trump is safe right now is nothing short of an act of God," Ramaswamy, who challenged the 78-year-old politician for the Republican presidential nomination at the primaries, wrote in a long post on X.

"My heart tells me God intervened not just for Trump, but for our nation.

"Today, the future survival of the United States of America came down to less than a hair's width in the path of a bullet," Ramaswamy said.

He continued his praise for Trump and said Americans just had the chance to see "our next President's true character, unvarnished". 

The US Secret Service is investigating how a person with an AR-15 rifle entered the scene and was able to fire multiple shots.

Moscow has called on the United States to "take stock" of its "policies of incitement to hatred", following the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.

China's President Xi Jinping has expressed his "compassion and sympathy" to Donald Trump following an assassination attempt on the former US president.

"China is closely following the situation surrounding the shooting of former President Donald Trump," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

The shooting at an election rally in Pennsylvania's Butler has left former US President Donald Trump injured and the Joe Biden administration red-faced.

Several world leaders have condemned the shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, in which the former US President was shot in the upper part of the ear.

Russia has called on the United States to "take stock" of its "policies of incitement to hatred", while using the assassination attempt on Donald Trump to denounce support for Kyiv. 

Addressing "those who vote in the United States to supply arms" to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced support for Kyiv, which she said stoked "attacks against the Russian president". 

"Perhaps it would be better to use this money to fund the American police and other services that are supposed to ensure law and order in the United States?" she added.

Tech leaders have condemned an assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump during an election rally, stressing that political violence is "intolerable".

The shooter behind Donald Trump's attempted assassination, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was from Bethel Park in Pennsylvania, was registered as a Republican, according to the state's voter records.

The FBI has identified the shooter in the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Italy PM Giorgia Meloni has expressed 'solidarity' with Donald Trump and condemned violence, hours after the former US president was injured during a shooting at his poll rally.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called the shooting at Donald Trump's rally 'a tragedy for our democracies'.

The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the shooter.

Donald Trump's children took to their social media after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally.

"This is the fighter America needs!" son Eric Trump wrote above a photo of his father with blood running down his cheek, his fist in the air and an American flag waving in the background.

Donald Trump Jr also posted the same photo, writing on X: "He'll never stop fighting to Save America."

"I love you Dad, today and always," daughter Ivanka posted on X, thanking supporters as well as the Secret Service for their "quick and decisive actions today."

"I continue to pray for our country," she said.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has "unequivocally" condemned the assassination attempt that wounded former US president Donald Trump.

"The Secretary-General unequivocally condemns this act of political violence. He sends his best wishes to President Trump for a speedy recovery," his spokesperson said in a statement.

Donald Trump has been seen in a video walking off his plane hours after he was injured in the shocking shooting incident.

In a video posted by his deputy communications director on social media, the former US president is seen in a navy suit and white shirt without a tie, while descending a staircase from his plane. His right ear, which was injured in the attempt, cannot be seen in the footage. 

The New York Times reported that he was in New Jersey, where he will spend the night.

Security agencies in the US are not yet prepared to identify the shooter behind the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and will inform the press when they are "100 per cent confident", the FBI said.

A moment of terrifying political violence at a Pennsylvania rally Saturday instantly turned into a piece of Donald Trump iconography that's likely to turbocharge his presidential bid.

"We are grateful that there were not more victims," the FBI said, while confirming that all three victims from the Donald Trump rally - one who was killed and two who were injured - are adult males.

The FBI has asked the public to share any information they have that may assist with the investigation into the shooting incident.

The FBI has also confirmed the 'assassination attempt' against Donald Trump.

"This evening we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against our former president Donald Trump," Special Agent Kevin Rojek told reporters in Butler, Pennsylvania.

"We will release details on the shooter when we are 100% sure about the identity," the FBI said at the press conference.

"We didn't have any specific information related to this event," the FBI official said.

The FBI is currently briefing the media on the shooting incident at Donald Trump's rally. An official said they are not prepared to identify the attacker and they have not yet identified a motive.

While information about the incident is still sparse, at least one person interviewed by the BBC said he had tried to alert police and the US Secret Service, to no avail.

US President Joe Biden has spoken to Donald Trump, a White House official said, after the Republican was injured in an apparent assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

"This evening, President Biden spoke to former President Trump," the official was quoted as saying by AFP.

He added that the US incumbent would receive an updated briefing from law enforcement officials on the incident.

Shots were fired during a rally speech by Donald Trump, in an incident that investigators are treating as a possible assassination attempt on the former president. 

Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Donald Trump, conveyed gratitude for the outpouring of support and concern following the violent incident. In a statement released shortly after the shooting, she expressed deep appreciation for the swift actions of the Secret Service and law enforcement, underscoring their role in averting further tragedy.

Donald Trump was out of hospital following a shooting at his rally where he was shot in the right ear, Bloomberg reported.

US President Joe Biden said there is "no place for this kind of violence" after his Republican opponent Donald Trump was injured following a shooting at an election rally in Pennsylvania.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is "deeply concerned" by the attack on his "friend" Donald Trump. 

"Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies. Wish him speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people," he said on X.

More pictures from the rally, where Donald Trump was attacked, have surfaced, showing panic and chaos among the crowd.

Picture credits: AFP

Pictures also show Trump taking cover behind the podium with blood smeared across his face.

Picture credits: Reuters

Former US President Donald Trump was hit in the ear in an apparent assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally today.

Former US president Donald Trump hid behind the podium on stage as several shots rang out at the rally in Pennsylvania.

Law enforcement officials have reportedly recovered "an AR-style rifle" at the scene of attack on Donald Trump.

Reacting to the news, Elon Musk said, "Extreme incompetence or it was deliberate. Either way, the SS (Secret Service) leadership must resign."

Former US President Donald Trump was rushed off stage after a series of gunshots were fired at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania today.

Donald Trump's potential running mate JD Vance has said the "rhetoric" of US President Joe Biden's reelection campaign had "led directly" to what he called an "attempted assassination" of the Republican candidate.

"Today is not just some isolated incident," he wrote on X. 

"The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination," he added.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he was "appalled by the shocking scenes" of a shooting targeting Donald Trump at an election rally.

"Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack," the newly-elected premier posted on X.

The alleged shooter who injured US presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania was outside the event grounds, a local prosecutor said.

"I don't know how he would have gotten to the location where he was, but he was outside the grounds. And I think that's something that we're going to have to figure out how he got there," Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger was quoted as saying by the news agency AFP.

The Secret Service said that multiple shots came from 'elevated position' outside Trump rally venue in Butler.

"During former President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13 at around 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue," it said in an official statement. 

"US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. The US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former President is safe and being evaluated. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured. The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation," the statement read further.

A witness has claimed that he saw the man - who fired at Donald Trump while he was addressing a campaign rally - positioned on the roof of a building near the venue.

The Secret Service said one spectator has been killed, while two others "critically injured" in the Trump rally shooting.

Trump supporters were seen laying in the stands after guns were fired at the Republican at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Photo: AFP

In his first reaction to shooting at his rally, Donald Trump said he"was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear".

"I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured," he said in a statement.

"It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!," he added.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has said that he "fully" endorses Trump after the rally violence.

"I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," Musk wrote on X, as he shared a video of Trump pumping his fist while being escorted away by Secret Service agents.

A picture shows Secret Service agents surrounding Donald Trump onstage after shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Photo: AFP

Former US president George W Bush also condemned the "cowardly" attack.

"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," he said in a statement. 

In a video that captures the shooting at Donald Trump's Pennsylvania rally, the former US President can be seen delivering his speech amongst a big crowd of his supporters when several gunshots are heard. 

After the first couple of gunshots that took the 78-year-old president unawares, he can be seen touching his right ear before ducking to take cover behind the stage dias.

The crowd behind him, visibly confused and scared, also ducks to dodge any bullet. 

Trump, whose right ear can be seen bleeding, raises his fist in the air while being evacuated.

Former US President Barack Obama also reacted to the apparent shooting at his successor Donald Trump's rally and said there was "absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy."

"Although we don't yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn't seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics," he posted on X.

US President Joe Biden said he was "grateful to hear" that his election rival Donald Trump was safe in a shooting incident at a rally in Pennsylvania. 

"I'm grateful to hear that he's safe and doing well. I'm praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information," Biden said in a statement shortly after the incident.

"Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There's no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."

The suspected shooter has been confirmed dead, along with one bystander, US media reported.

A second bystander may also have been hit.

The shooting took place shortly after Donald Trump took the stage at his final campaign rally before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week.

Donald Trump's campaign said he was "fine" and being checked at a medical facility.

"President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow," said spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement.

"The former president is safe," the Secret Service said in a post on X.

Former US President Donald Trump was rushed off stage after a series of gunshots were fired at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania today.

As gunshots were heard, he clutched a hand to his right ear, where blood was clearly visible across his cheek and mouth.