BUTLER, Pa. — Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt Saturday at a Pennsylvania rally, days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. A barrage of gunfire set off panic, and a bloodied Trump, who said he was “fine,” was surrounded by Secret Service and hurried to his SUV as he pumped his fist in a show of defiance.

At least one attendee was dead and two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter — who it said attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue, a farm show in Butler, Pennsylvania — and that Trump was safe.

The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. It drew new attention to concerns about political violence in a deeply polarized U.S. less than four months before the presidential election. And it could alter the tenor and security posture at the Republican National Convention, which will begin on Monday in Milwaukee.

“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.”

Reaction began almost immediately from Tennessee political leaders, Republican and Democratic.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said he is praying for the former president.

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee questioned why there was no immediate reaction from the White House.

President Joe Biden reacted after Hagerty’s criticism in a written statement and later made a televised statement to the press saying “There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick.”

“We cannot condone this,” he said. “Everybody must condemn this.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) saying the violence is “antithetical to our political system.”

Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee mentioned an earlier remark by Biden about putting Trump in a bullseye, and was critical of Memphis Democratic state Representative Antonio Parkinson and Democratic state Senator London Lamar for their immediate reactions on X.

The post by Lamar blamed the violence on “extremism from the MAGA regime.” Lamar later deleted that post and replaced it with another.

Parkinson wondered aloud about whether the shooting was “a staged act.”

Parkinson’s remark drew criticism from Republican State Rep. Jody Barrett.

In a later X post, Parkinson said all should condemn the violence no matter what their position is on the presidential race.

Democratic state Senate leaders Raumesh Akbari of Memphis posted on X “Violence is never, ever the answer.”

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris called the shooting a “heinous act”

Tennessee Democratic Party chairman Hendrell Remus also condemned the violence saying political differences should be settled differently.

U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (R-Germantown) said he and his wife are praying for Trump.

State Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Eads) expressed similar sentiments.

Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright said, “American citizens should not become targets of terrorism because they are engaging in our political process.”

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy posted, “We contest with ballots, not bullets.”

Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman also among those reacting to the shooting.

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

As the first pop rang out, Trump said, “Oh,” and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard and he crouched down.

Someone could 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.

Screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.

Trump got to his feet moments later and could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his bloody face. 

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

His motorcade left the venue moments later.

Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage in what local officers described as a crime scene.

President Joe 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.

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.”

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the three men on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Rubio sharing 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.”

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.

”Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” he said.

This story was written by Jill Colvin, Julie Carr Smyth, Eric Tucker and Michelle Price of The Associated Press.

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