Joe Biden held a snap press conference before travelling back to Washington DC 

Russia blamed Joe Biden’s administration for creating “the atmosphere” that led to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

While most nations limited themselves to expressing sympathy for the former president and shock at the attack, the Kremlin was more pointed in casting blame on the White House.

“We do not believe that the attempt to eliminate and assassinate Trump was organised by the current authorities,” Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told reporters, suggesting even in the denial that it was a possibility.

“But the atmosphere around candidate Trump ... provoked what America is confronting today.”

“After numerous attempts to remove candidate Trump from the political arena - using first legal tools, the courts, prosecutors, attempts to politically discredit and compromise the candidate - it was obvious to all outside observers that his life was in danger,” Mr Peskov said.

He added that there were no plans for Putin to call Trump in light of the incident.

Joe Biden earlier condemned the “sick” attack on his rival as news of the attempt on Trump’s life sent shockwaves through US political circles and prompted most world leaders to react with horror.

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” the US president said during a snap press conference shortly after Trump was injured at his election rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening.

“It’s sick,” he said. “It’s sick.”

Mr Biden was attending church near his beach house in Delaware when news of the attempted assassination broke. He left the service early to be briefed by security chiefs and later called Trump who had by that time been driven under guard to a doctors’ surgery in Butler County.

In a written statement from the White House, the president said he was “grateful to hear” that Trump was “safe and doing well”.

The statement added: “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.”

It said the President and Jill Biden, the First Lady, were “grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety,” stressing that “we must unite as one nation to condemn” this kind of violence.

Trump, 78, confirmed shortly after the attack that he had suffered a wound to the ear but was otherwise fine.

“I will never surrender,” he declared in a subsequent social media post.

Trump also thanked the Secret Service agents who protected him and paid condolences to the rally attendee who was killed.

One person was confirmed to have died in the shooting and two others were critically injured.

The suspected shooter, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, was killed by secret service agents within a minute of the first shots ringing out at Trump’s rally.

Sir Keir: ‘I am appalled’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first leaders to express shock and send messages of support to Trump.

“I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump’s rally and we send him and his family our best wishes. Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack,” Sir Keir said.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, called the incident “concerning and confronting” as he expressed relief that Trump had survived.

There was “no place for violence in the democratic process”, Mr Albanese said.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he and his wife Sara were “shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump”.

“We pray for his safety and speedy recovery,” the Israeli PM added.

Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, who has had a rocky relationship with Trump, said on X that he was “sickened” by the shooting.

“It cannot be overstated – political violence is never acceptable,” Mr Trudeau said.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said he was “appalled to learn about the shooting”, adding that “such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world”.

“Never should violence prevail,” Mr Zelensky said. “I am relieved to learn that Donald Trump is now safe and wish him a speedy recovery.”

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called the violence “irrational and inhuman.”

Fumio Kishida, the leader of Japan, where former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated at a political event two years ago said that “we must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy”.

Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister said he was “deeply concerned by the attack on my friend”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people,” he said.

The recently elected President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, offered his “thoughts and prayers” to Trump as well as his “sincere condolences to the victims affected by the attack”.

There was no immediate reaction from China’s President Xi Jinping, who had a complicated relationship with Trump when he was in office. Mr Xi rarely makes direct comments on global events.

Chinese state media outlet the Global Times offered its analysis, quoting an expert as noting that “the current level of chaos in the US somewhat resembles that of the early 1970s, adding that “this incident could potentially strengthen Trump’s campaign advantage”.

Former presidents and rivals among well-wishes

Barack Obama was among former presidents quickly lining up to condemn the violence.

“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,” he said in a social media post. “Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”

Bill Clinton, whose wife Hillary ran against Trump in the 2016 election, said “violence has no place in America, especially in our political process.”

He added: “Hillary and I are thankful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for all those affected by the attack at today’s rally in Pennsylvania, and grateful for the swift action of the U.S. Secret Service.”

The Biden team said it would temporarily suspend its campaign communications and that Mr Biden would travel back to the White House early.

The President had been planning to spend the entire weekend at his holiday home in Rehoboth, a beachside city, following some of the most difficult days of his leadership in which some fellow Democrats called on him to quit the 2024 presidential race.

“The Biden campaign is pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible,” campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz told reporters on Saturday night.

Senior Republicans are concerned, outraged and defiant

Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader said that “all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally. Violence has no place in our politics. We appreciate the swift work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement.”

Mike Rogers, a former senior member of Congress who is currently running for Senate said, “This is a somber moment for our nation. We are praying for President Trump and all Americans today.”

Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, asked people to pray for “President Trump, his secret service members, and everyone at today’s rally.”

Doug Burgam, Governor of North Dakota wrote on X: “We all know President Trump is stronger than his enemies. Today he showed it.”

Left accused of encouraging violence

One of Trump’s shortlist picks for Vice President, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, commented soon after the attack asking everyone to “join me” in praying for Trump’s recovery and the other victims.

He also appeared to lay the blame for the incident on rhetoric from the Biden campaign, without providing evidence. The motives of the shooter are not yet known.

“Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Mr Vance said on X.

“That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination,” he continued.

The Conservative Political Action Conference also alleged that the left was responsible for the shot on Trump’s life as a last resort to keep him from winning the 2024 election.

“For years the Left and the media lied and demonized President Trump,” the group said in a statement.

“When they failed, they tried to lock him up. Today, we have witnessed the horrific end to the Left’s dangerous rhetoric.

Donald Trump Jr. said he had spoken to his father on Saturday and that he was “in great spirits,” adding, “He will never stop fighting to save America, no matter what the radical left throws at him.”

Ivanka Trump said “I love you dad, today and always” as she thanked all those who had prayed for the victims of the “senseless violence”.

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