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Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a Saturday campaign rally, streaking the Republican presidential candidate's blood across his face and prompting his security agents to swarm him, before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air, mouthing the words "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed and two other spectators were injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt, Reuters reported.

Law enforcement officials told reporters they had tentatively identified a suspected shooter but were not ready to do so publicly. They also said they not yet identified a motive.

Trump, 78, had just started his speech when the shots rang out. He grabbed his right ear with his right hand, then brought his hand down to look at it before dropping to his knees behind the podium before Secret Service agents swarmed and covered him. He emerged about a minute later, his red "Make America Great Again" hat knocked off, and could be heard saying "wait, wait," before the fist bump, then agents rushed him to a black SUV.

"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump said later on his Truth Social platform following the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles (50 km) north of Pittsburgh. "Much bleeding took place."

The shooting occurred less than four months before the Nov. 5 election, when Trump faces an election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Most opinion polls including those by Reuters/Ipsos show the two locked in a close contest, according to Reuters.

Leading Republicans and Democrats quickly condemned the violence.

The Trump campaign said he was "doing well."

Biden said in a statement: "There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."

Republican US Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas told Fox News his nephew had been wounded at the rally.

The shooting raised immediate questions about security failures by the Secret Service, which provides former presidents including Trump with lifetime protection.

It was the first shooting of a US president or major party candidate since the 1981 attempted assassination of Republican President Ronald Reagan, Reuters reported.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said Trump has left the Butler area under the protection of the US Secret Service with the assistance of the Pennsylvania state police. Republican U.S. Representative Daniel Meuser told CNN Trump was headed to Bedminster, New Jersey, where he has a golf club.

President Ram Chandra Paudel will appoint the new Prime Minister today.

The process of appointment and swearing-in of the Prime Minister will take place today after the deadline set by the President for the formation of the new government comes to an end, said Kiran Pokharel, the Press Advisor of the President.

President Paudel had, in accordance with Article 76 (2) of the Constitution, called on parties on Friday to submit their stake on the new government leadership by 5 pm today.

Accordingly, the Chairperson of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli had submitted his claim for the post of the Prime Minister on Friday itself with the support of Nepali Congress.

Following the expiration of the deadline at 5 pm, President Paudel will appoint the Prime Minister this evening. However, the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister and ministers will be held at 11 am on Monday, as the time will not be enough for the same on Sunday, added Press Advisor Pokharel.

A new government is being formed after incumbent Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lost a majority of the Parliament, with the CPN-UML deciding to part ways with him and join hands with the main opposition, Nepali Congress.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal failed to secure a vote of confidence in Parliament on Friday.

He managed to garner only 65 votes.

A total of 194 members voted against the confidence motion while a member stayed neutral.

The Parliament meeting was attended by 258 lawmakers.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced that the vote of confidence sought by Prime Minister Dahal was rejected.

Thirty-two lawmakers of the CPN (Maoist Center), 21 of Rastriya Swatantra Party and 10 of CPN (Unified Socialist)  voted in favor of Prime Minister Dahal.

Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, Janata Samajbadi Party, Janamat Party, Democratic Socialist Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party voted against PM Dahal.

PM Dahal sought a vote of confidence as per Article 100 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal after the UML withdrew support extended to the government.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) would not join the new government.

Leader Metmani Chaudhary said that the party would support the government based on its merits and demerits.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has directed its lawmakers to vote in favor of the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. 

PM Dahal is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence in the Parliament today.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has 10 lawmakers in the House of Representatives.