Donald Trump has apologised after being caught on tape making crude and degrading comments about women.On Friday afternoon, The Washington Post and NBC News released a 2005 video on which Mr Trump describes trying to have sex with a married woman. He also brags about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is famous.
When you’re a star they let you do it,’ Trump says. ‘You can do anything.’ He adds seconds later: ‘Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.’
Within hours, the shock of the video led to widespread condemnation from inside Trump’s own party. House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan said he was sickened by the comments, while a one-sentence response from the party’s chairman was devastating.
‘No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever,’ said Reince Priebus, who had stood by Trump through his past provocative comments.
By the time Trump posted his video apology, three Republican members of Congress had called on him to abandon the race. Among them was Utah’s Jason Chaffetz, who called Trump’s words ‘some of the most abhorrent and offensive comments that you can possibly imagine’.
Trump’s running mate, Indiana governor Mike Pence, was ‘beside himself’ and his wife was furious, according to a source close to them.