How the Trump Pennsylvania shooting attempt looked from China

Others drew parallels with the 1963 death of US president John F. Kennedy and marvelled at Trump’s luck.

“A simple turn of his head during the speech saved him, otherwise it could have been fatal,” a commenter said.

The incident prompted some internet users to highlight the wide access to firearms in the United States and the frequent number of gun crimes.

“America is a mess, shootings happen every day. The assassination is a result of the proliferation of guns.”

Others suggested that the shooting was staged and that “after the bullet pierced his ear, he still showed his head and raised his arms to cheer”.

“Trump will make full use of this shooting and further improve his support rate,” another said.

The US Secret Service said in a statement that the suspected shooter “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally” before being “neutralised” by agents, Agence France-Presse reported.

It said Trump was “safe and being evaluated” while confirming the death of a spectator. Two others were critically wounded.

The identity of the assailant has not been confirmed.

Tabloid newspaper The New York Post said initially that the shooter was “identified as a Chinese man” before reporting that the gunman was “identified only as a white male”.

The Chinese foreign ministry has not commented on the incident.