US politicians and world leaders condemned Saturday's shooting at a rally held by former president Donald Trump.
One person was killed and two critically injured when several shots were fired during the event.
Trump ducked behind a podium before Secret Service agents jumped on him. Blood could be seen pouring down his face as his security team ushered him offstage.
President Joe Biden addressed the shooting, saying that “there is no place in America for this kind of violence”.
“It's sick, it's sick. We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this.”
House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X that he was praying for Trump, while Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House, said that “political violence of any kind is never acceptable”.
Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House whose husband was attacked with a hammer in a politically motivated attack, expressed deep concern for the former president.
“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know first-hand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society,” said Ms Pelosi, who was often at loggerheads with Trump during his presidency.
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Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by US Secret Service agents and helped off stage at a campaign rally. AP Photo -
Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler. AP Photo -
Members of the crowd react as US Secret Service agents surround Trump at the campaign event in Butler. AP Photo -
Trump is helped off stage by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler. AP Photo -
Trump supporters laying in the stands after shots were fired at the campaign event. AFP -
People scatter after gunfire rang out during the campaign rally in Pennsylvania. AFP -
Trump is rushed off stage after an incident during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. EPA -
Blood is seen in the stands after shots were fired at Trump's campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. AFP -
Trump reacts as shots ring out during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Reuters -
Secret Service agents dive to cover Trump after shots were heard. AP -
Trump is covered by Secret Service agents on stage. AP -
Trump is rushed off stage. EPA -
Trump is shown covered by Secret Service agents. AFP -
Blood can be seen on Trump's head after shots were heard. AFP -
Trump is taken away from rally. ABC/ US Network Pool / Reuters -
Supporters look on as Trump is rushed off stage. EPA -
Trump is pushed into a vehicle by Secret Service agents. AP -
A person is removed by state police from the stands after the shooting. AFP -
Secret Service agents surround the stage. AP -
Secret Service agents patrol after the incident. Reuters -
A Secret Service agent gives directions at the Trump rally. Getty Images / AFP -
The stage after the shooting. Reuters -
People watch the Trump rally on TV. AP -
A monitor displays news from Trump's rally. Bloomberg -
Trump gestures he leaves the stage at the campaign rally. AP Photo
“I thank God that former president Trump is safe.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another frequent Democratic critic of Trump, called the incident “horrific” and “absolutely unacceptable”.
Trump's former vice president Mike Pence, whom the former president has blamed for agreeing to certify Mr Biden's electoral win in the 2020 election, tweeted that he and his wife Karen “are praying for President Trump and urge every American to join us”.
Some Republican politicians took a stronger line and called for an investigation.
Representative James Comer formally called on the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, to testify in Congress.
Senator Josh Hawley wrote on X: “The nation needs to know who did this. And why. And we need a full, public investigation by Congress into HOW it happened.”
Mr Johnson, the House Speaker, said later that the chamber would conduct a full investigation.
“The American people deserve to know the truth,” he said.
International leaders also expressed their condemnation of the shooting and prayers for Trump's health.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the shooting left him shocked, while President Isaac Herzog extended his best wishes for Trump's health on behalf of the Israeli people and condemned “utterly and unequivocally the attempt on his life”.
Newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump's rally” and sent him and his family “our best wishes”.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who met Trump this week while visiting the US for the Nato summit, said his prayers were with the former president “in these dark hours”.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that “we condemn what happened to former President Donald Trump – violence is irrational and inhumane”.
“We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. “I pray for former president Trump’s speedy recovery.”
The UAE has strongly condemned the shooting and all forms of violence.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the UAE's solidarity with Trump and his family, as well as with the government and people of the US, and offered its heartfelt wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
The ministry reaffirmed the UAE's condemnation of such criminal and extremist acts, and its rejection of all forms of violence.
