Trump
Nope, Twitter won't see Donald Trump anytime soon. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/File Photo)

Former President Donald Trump was targeted in what authorities are investigating as an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump, whose ear was reportedly grazed by a bullet, was swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents. His campaign confirmed that he is "fine" and being treated at a local medical facility.

Trump, 77, took to his social media platform Truth Social approximately two and a half hours after the incident, detailing the harrowing experience. "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 wrote. "Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."

Local prosecutors confirmed that the suspected gunman, who was not an attendee at the rally, was killed by Secret Service agents. The gunfire also resulted in at least one other fatality among the rally attendees. The incident marks the first attempt on a presidential candidate's life since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

"President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act," campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement. "He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."

The Secret Service confirmed in a statement that "the former President is safe." Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., reassured supporters on social media that his father was "in great spirits" after speaking with him on the phone.

President Joe Biden, addressing the nation from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, strongly condemned the violence. "There's no place in America for this kind of violence," Biden stated. "It's sick. It's sick." He added, "We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this."

Two officials, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, detailed the incident, stating that the shooter was engaged and neutralized by the Secret Service counterassault team. This heavily armed tactical unit is tasked with confronting active threats while other agents secure and evacuate the principal.

Video footage from the event showed the chaotic scene as Secret Service agents tackled Trump to the ground, shielding him with their bodies. Screams erupted from the crowd as agents took up defensive positions on stage. Trump, visibly shaken but defiant, later pumped his fist in the air and mouthed the word "Fight" twice to his supporters, prompting loud chants of "USA. USA. USA."

The rally venue was quickly evacuated, with police and Secret Service agents securing the area. Reports from the scene described the noise of gunfire as initially confusing, with some attendees mistaking it for firecrackers or a car backfiring.

Firefighters from nearby Steubenville, Ohio, who were attending the rally, provided assistance to injured attendees. Chris Takach, one of the firefighters, described the chaos, "The bullets rattled around the grandstand, one hit the speaker tower and then chaos broke. We hit the ground and then the police converged into the grandstands."

Dave Sullivan, another firefighter, recounted, "The first thing I heard is a couple of cracks. We hit the deck." He added that they helped two individuals who appeared to have been shot and cleared a path for their evacuation.

Political violence has again shaken America, drawing parallels to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 and the attempted assassination of George Wallace in 1972. These events have historically led to increased security measures for presidential candidates. Biden, who is set to face Trump in the upcoming presidential election, was briefed on the incident by top security officials. The Biden campaign announced a temporary pause in all messaging and efforts to pull down television ads as a mark of respect. Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo of his father on social media, showing Trump with a raised fist and blood on his face, captioned with, "He'll never stop fighting to Save America." Prominent political figures, including former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, expressed relief that Trump was not seriously injured and condemned the violence. Obama stated, "There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy." Bush and his wife, Laura, shared their gratitude that Trump was safe following the "cowardly attack."

Gabby Giffords, a former congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, also condemned the violence, emphasizing that political violence is "un-American and is never acceptable."

AP and CNBC contributed to this report.