No place for this kind of violence: Biden, US leaders condemn assassination attempt on Donald Trump

Political leaders on both parties slammed the attack 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," Biden told reporters in an emergency briefing at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware.

"The idea that there's political violence, or violence in America like this, is just unheard of. It's just not appropriate. Everybody, everybody must condemn it. Everybody," Biden said.

Vice President Kamala Harris said on X: "We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting."

Biden's former boss, Barack Obama, in a statement, 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," the Democrat said on X.

Former president George W. Bush 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," the Republican said in a statement.

From the Senate, top Democrat Chuck Schumer said he was "horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country."

Former US President Donald Trump was rushed off stage after a series of gunshots were fired at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (US time).

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

In his first reaction after the shooting at his rally, the 78-year-old Republican presidential candidate said in a statement he "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," Trump, who was not seriously injured, said on his Truth Social site.

He is currently doing "fine" and being checked at a medical facility, said reports.

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

Secret Service agents were quick to respond and surrounded Trump while escorting him off the stage, as he raised a fist to the crowd in defiance.