Assassination Attempt on Trump: Biden and Officials Respond

President Joe Biden spoke with Donald Trump and other officials after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attacker, who fired from an elevated position, killed one spectator and critically injured two others. The FBI is leading the investigation.

US President Joe Biden Saturday night spoke with his predecessor and Republican rival Donald Trump, hours after he survived an assassination attempt.

Trump, 78, was hit by a bullet in the right ear when a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position at the rally venue in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to the US Secret Service.

The attacker killed one spectator at the rally and critically injured two others.

"This evening, President Biden spoke to former President Trump. The President also spoke to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy," the White House said.

Biden, who was spending the weekend in Delaware, returned to the White House past midnight.

"Tomorrow morning at the White House, he will receive an updated briefing from homeland security and law enforcement officials," the White House stated.

President Biden extended his gratitude to the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies involved in the response to the shooting.

Biden was attending church in Delaware when the incident occurred and was briefed by Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall. Key officials like Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray were also involved in the briefings.

The FBI announced that it has assumed the role of the lead Federal Law Enforcement agency in the investigation regarding the rally incident in Butler, Pennsylvania.

(With inputs from agencies.)