Donald Trump rushed off stage at rally after being shot at in assassination attempt

Former US president Donald Trump was rushed off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after loud noises were heard as the former President was shot at - the FBI is investigating it as an assassination attempt.

Pennsylvania will be a crucial swing state for the 2024 election and Trump was delivering a speech on stage, he had been showing a chart on the number of people crossing the border into the US when the noises occurred.

Trump reached towards his neck and footage of the incident appeared to show blood on his head.

Secret service agents rushed over to Trump and got him off the stage as the crowd began to panic.

According to AP, the bangs continued while Trump was on stage and as his protective detail ushered him away he raised a fist to the gathered crowd.

Donald Trump's security detail got him off stage in response to the noises. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

They report that Trump's motorcade has since left the scene of the rally and police started evacuating the crowds.

US President Joe Biden was asked whether he had been briefed about the suspected shooting and said 'no'.

Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram reported that according to Republican politician Dan Meuser there were between eight and 10 shots and it 'appears multiple people in the crowd may have been hit and were down'.

Pergram also wrote on social media that Meuser added that the noises 'sounded like a .22 or a small caliber weapon'.

He reported that the Secret Service had said in a statement: "An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

"The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe.

"This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available."

Trump's campaign released a statement saying he was 'fine' and being looked over at a local medical facility. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A statement from Trump's campaign read: "President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.

"He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."

Pergram then reported that the White House had said they had now briefed the president about what had happened at the rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump was the US president between 2017 and 2021, spending one term in the White House before being defeated by Joe Biden four years ago.

With another election looming it appears as though the two candidates are due to go head to head at the ballot box once again.

However, the US election is still some months away and there are a number of developments which could occur before then.