President Donald Trump struck a subdued and unusually conciliatory tone after what he described as a third attempt on his life in under two years. While suggesting his politics had made him a repeated target, he also called for unity and bipartisan healing amid rising violence.

“It’s always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me, a little bit. And that never changes,” a subdued Trump told reporters at a hastily arranged White House news conference late Saturday.

Shortly before, a man armed with guns and knives had tried to breach the security perimeter at a Washington hotel where Trump was due to speak at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Authorities are in the early stages of investigating the incident and have not yet determined a motive.…