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Donald Trump appeared to be the target of an assassination attempt as he spoke during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, law enforcement officials said. The former president, his ear covered in blood, was quickly pulled away by Secret Service agents and his campaign said he was 鈥渇ine.鈥�

The attack, by a shooter who law enforcement officials say was then killed by the Secret Service, was the first attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. It comes amid a deeply polarized political atmosphere, just four months from the presidential elections and days before Mr. Trump is to be officially named the Republican nominee at his party鈥檚 convention.

A local prosecutor said the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead.

鈥淧resident Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,鈥� spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. 鈥淗e is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.鈥�

The Secret Service said in a statement that 鈥渢he former President is safe.鈥� Mr. Trump鈥檚 eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said after 8 p.m., that he spoke to his father on the phone and that 鈥渉e is in great spirits.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 no place in America for this type of violence,鈥� President Joe Biden, who is running against Mr. Trump as the presumptive Democratic nominee, said in remarks. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sick. It鈥檚 sick.鈥�

Two officials spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. They said the shooter was not an attendee at the rally and was killed by U.S. Secret Service agents.

The officials said the shooter was engaged by members of the U.S. Secret Service counterassault team and killed. The heavily armed tactical team travels everywhere with the president and major party nominees and is meant to confront any active threats while other agents focus on safeguarding and evacuating the person at the center of protection.

It鈥檚 still not clear yet whether Mr. Trump was struck by gunfire or was injured as he was pulled to the ground by agents.

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.

Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens Monday when the apparent shots began.

It took two minutes from the moment of the first shot for Mr. Trump to be placed in a waiting SUV.

As Mr.聽Trump was talking, a popping sound was heard, and the former president put his right hand up to his right ear, as people in the stands behind him appeared to be shocked.

As the first pop rang out, Mr. Trump said, 鈥淥h,鈥� and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard and he crouched down. More shots are heard then.

Someone could be heard saying near the microphone at Mr. Trump鈥檚 lectern, 鈥淕et down, get down, get down, get down!鈥� 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.

Screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. A woman is heard screaming louder than the rest. Afterward, voices were heard saying 鈥渟hooter鈥檚 down鈥� several times, before someone asks 鈥渁re we good to move?鈥� and 鈥渁re we clear?鈥� Then, someone ordered, 鈥淟et鈥檚 move.鈥�

Mr. Trump could be heard on the video saying at least twice, 鈥淟et me get my shoes, let me get my shoes,鈥� with another voice heard saying, 鈥淚鈥檝e got you sir.鈥�

Mr. Trump got to his feet moments later and could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face. There appeared to be blood on his face. He then pumped his fist in the air and appeared to mouth the word 鈥淔ight鈥� twice his crowd of supporters, prompting loud cheers and then chants of 鈥淯SA. USA. USA.鈥�

The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.

His motorcade left the venue moments later. Video showed Mr. Trump turning back to the crowd and raising a fist right before he is put into a vehicle.

Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Mr. Trump left the stage in what local officers described as a crime scene.
Political violence again shakes America

The perils of campaigning took on a new urgency after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in California in 1968, and again in 1972 when Arthur Bremer shot and seriously hurt George Wallace, who was running as an independent on a campaign platform that has sometimes been compared to Mr. Trump鈥檚. That led to increased protection of candidates, even as the threats persisted, notably against Jesse Jackson in 1988 and Barack Obama in 2008.

Presidents, particularly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, have even greater layers of security. Mr. Trump is a rarity as both a former president and a current candidate.

President Biden was briefed on the incident, the White House said. He received an updated briefing from Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the United States Secretary Service, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

He told reporters after 8 p.m. that he hadn鈥檛 been able to reach Mr. Trump yet but was briefed that the former president was 鈥渄oing well.鈥�

鈥淚 hope I get to speak to him tonight,鈥� he said.

After the shooting at Mr. Trump鈥檚 rally the Biden campaign was pausing all messaging to supporters and is working to pull down all of its television ads as quickly as possible, the campaign said.

Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo on X of his father, his fist raised and his face bloody in front of an American flag, with the words: 鈥淗e鈥檒l never stop fighting to Save America.鈥�

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the three men on Mr. Trump鈥檚 shortlist for vice president, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Senator Rubio sharing an image taken as Mr. Trump was escorted off stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face along with the words 鈥淕od protected President Trump.鈥�

Pennsylvania Gov. 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.

鈥淰iolence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,鈥� he said.

This story was reported by The Associated Press. Colvin, Balsamo and Price reported from New York. Long and Tucker reported from Washington.