TV star who could cost Trump the White House
DONALD TRUMP’S bid for the US presidency was hanging by a thread last night as a damning video of his offensive comments about women provoked disgust and condemnation from even his staunchest supporters.
Politicians and celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic called for him to pull out of the campaign after he was recorded saying that because he was a ‘star’, beautiful women let him ‘grab them by the p***y’.
By last night there were clear signs that Trump’s support was crumbling fast as:
The billionaire’s wife Melania released a statement saying his words were ‘unacceptable and offensive to me’ but did not ‘represent the man that I know’.
His running mate, Indiana governor Mike Pence, admitted he ‘cannot condone or defend’ Trump’s words.
Three Republican senators called for him to step aside.
One backer, Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, withdrew his endorsement, saying Trump’s ‘pattern of behaviour’ left him ‘no choice’.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican when he was governor of California, said he would not be voting for his party in the presidential election for he first time since becoming an American citizen in 1983.
Hollywood star Robert De Niro called him ‘a punk, a dog, a pig’.
A former business associate of Trump’s claimed he had indecently assaulted her in 1992.
House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan admitted he was ‘sickened’ by the tape and cancelled an invitation for Trump to campaign in Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin.
De Niro called him a ‘blatantly stupid pig’
Trump defiantly declared that he would ‘never, ever give up’.
The seedy, sexually charged comments came in 2005 as the businessman was waiting to make a cameo appearance on a TV soap opera.
The then newlywed property developer bragged about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women who were not his wife on the recordings obtained by The Washington Post and NBC News.
He boasted ‘when you’re a star, they let you do it,’ in a conversation with Billy Bush, then a host of US TV show Access Hollywood, and the cousin of ex-President George W Bush and his brother, former Florida governor Jeb.
The remarks – captured by a live microphone that Trump did not appear to know was recording their entire conversation – came months after the reality TV star married his third wife, Melania.
He is heard bemoaning how he tried – and failed – to seduce an unnamed woman, believed to be former Access Hollywood co-host Nancy O’Dell, saying: ‘I moved on her and I failed, I’ll admit. I did try and f*** her. She was married.
‘And I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, “I’ll show you where they have some nice furniture.’’’
The businessman said he ‘moved on her like a b **** ’, before making a crass remark about the woman’s breast implants.
Then, after seeing actress Arianne Zucker on the set of the soap opera on which he was to appear, he said he needed Tic Tac breath mints ‘just in case I start kissing her’. He added: ‘I’m automatically attracted to beautiful – I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything.’
The remarks, which appeared to condone sexual assault, were swiftly condemned by Hillary Clinton’s campaign along with Republicans. ‘This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become President,’ Mrs Clinton posted on her campaign’s Twitter account.
The presidential hopeful and his campaign team appeared caught unawares by the depth of the anger following the tape’s release and a hasty initial statement simply dismissed the remarks as ‘locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said worse to me on the golf course – not even close. I apologise if anyone was offended’.
But a few hours later, Trump was forced to record a more considered statement. The video’s release comes as Trump prepares to face Hillary Clinton in their second debate tomorrow.
In a New York Times report, former business associate Jill Harth revealed how the businessman had run his hands up her skirt in 1992. She said: ‘I didn’t know how to handle it. I would go away from him and say, “I have to go to the restroom.” It was the escape route.’ Yesterday, several celebrities were also quick to slam the presidential hopeful.
In a 50-second tirade, Oscar winner Robert De Niro pulled no punches, saying: ‘He’s so blatantly stupid. He’s a punk, he’s a dog, he’s a pig, a mutt who doesn’t do his homework, doesn’t care. He’s an idiot.’
Actress Ashley Judd also accused Trump of sleazy behaviour on Twitter, writing: ‘I never heard him “apologise” for talking to me & others about his family member’s spouse, and especially her breasts. THIS IS WHO HE IS.’
Terminator star Schwarzenegger – who is due to take over from Mr Trump as Celebrity Apprentice host – urged Americans to ‘choose your country over your party’.
Last night, Trump’s wife Melania said: ‘This does not represent the man I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world.’