The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking into "an assassination attempt" against former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, authorities said.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of FBI Pittsburgh field office, said the FBI was not prepared to identify the shooter and did not have a motive for the incident that left one person dead and two injured.
"This evening, we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. It's still an active crime scene," Mr Rojek said during a press conference.
There is no existing threat after the shooting, the FBI official said.
Political leaders on both sides of the aisle slammed the violence minutes after the Republican candidate was rushed off stage by the Secret Service with blood running down his face.
"There's no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick. It's sick. It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country... We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this," Mr Biden told reporters in an emergency briefing at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said that former US President Donald Trump has left the Butler area following a shooting at a rally there earlier in the day.
Mr Shapiro said in a post on X that Mr Trump departed "under the protection of US Secret Service and with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police."
The shocking incident will fuel anxiety in a country already on edge about the prospect of unrest and political harassment in the run-up to the November election battle between Mr Trump and President Biden.
"The former president is safe," the Secret Service said in a post on X.
The Trump campaign also said Mr Trump was "doing well." Bloomberg reported he had been released from the hospital.
This was the moment Donald Trump was evacuated from the stage after what sounded like shots rang out at a rally in Pennsylvania.
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Shooter dead
An eyewitness told reporters he saw the suspected shooter climb on the roof of a low-rise building just outside the security perimeter with a rifle shortly before the incident occurred.
The suspected shooter was later confirmed dead, along with one bystander, US media reported.
"Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said two people are dead, including an apparent shooter," The Washington Post reported.
The apparent shooting took place shortly after Mr Trump took the stage at his final campaign rally before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week.
The rally in Butler, Pennsylvania descended into scenes of chaos as bangs were heard and screams and shouts rang out.
"Let me get my shoes," Mr Trump was heard saying on microphone, as security agents helped him back to his feet.
Agents bundled the 78-year-old tycoon into an SUV, as he once more raised his fist to the crowd.
In a post on social media, Mr Trump confirmed that a bullet had hit him on the upper part of his right ear, as reported by our Washington Correspondent, Sean Whelan.
He said he knew immediately something was wrong, had hears shots and a whizzing sound, and immediately felt a bullet ripping through the skin.
He expressed his condolences to the crowd member who was killed and the other who was injured.
He said nothing was known about the shooter at this time.
In a statement from President Biden, he said "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."
Mr Trump is expected to still attend next week's Republican National Convention, his campaign said.
"President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States," said the campaign statement.
After the incident, President Biden's campaign suspended all political communication, including ads attacking Mr Trump.
A Biden campaign official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the team was "working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible," in response to the seriousness of the moment. The official did not offer more details.
Additional reporting by Sean Whelan
