Trump crisis after sex comments caught on tape
Republican nominee pressed to step down after video reveals him as ‘creep and a cad’
DONALD TRUMP was under pressure to step down as the Republican presidential nominee last night after a video emerged of him joking about sexual assault and detailing his attempts to seduce a married woman.
The 2005 footage rocked the billionaire’s campaign and threatened to kill off his attempt to reach the White House as party insiders called for running mate Mike Pence to replace him.
Senior Republicans said they were “sickened” and queued up to denounce their own standard bearer as a “creep and a cad”.
Mr Pence said: “As a husband and a father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump. I am grateful he has expressed remorse and apologised to the American people. We pray for his family.”
The video showed Mr Trump arriving by bus at a studio to make a cameo appearance on the American soap opera was accompanied by a crew from a US entertainment news show presented by Billy Bush. Mr Bush is a cousin of former president George W Bush.
Seemingly unaware that his microphone was live, Mr Trump began crudely telling Mr Bush how he had attempted to seduce married anchorwoman, Nancy O’Dell, and then made derogatory comments about her.
He bragged about how he could kiss and grope women at will, saying: “I don’t even wait. When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”
In her first comments Ms O’Dell, still a prominent US entertainment journalist, said: “Politics aside, I’m saddened that these comments still exist in our society at all. When I heard the comments yesterday, it was disappointing to hear such objectification of women.
“The conversation needs to change because no female, no person, should be the subject of such crass comments, whether or not cameras are rolling. Everyone deserves respect no matter the setting or gender. As a woman who has worked very hard to establish her career, and as a mom, I feel I must speak out with the hope that as a society we will always strive to be better.”
Mr Trump, who was 59 and married to his third wife Melania at the time, then turned his attention to Arianne Zucker, the actress he was about to meet, reaching for a packet of mints to freshen his breath “in case I start kissing her”. The latest row in Mr Trump’s campaign came ahead of tomorrow’s second televised presidential debate – a contest widely viewed as a last chance for Mr Trump to rescue his candidacy. After the video was published by
Mr Trump initially tried to dismiss it as “locker room banter”. But within hours it became clear that the backlash within his own party was worse than in previous scandals.
Shortly after midnight, Mr Trump released a televised apology. He said: “I was wrong and I apologise. I’ve never said I’m a perfect person nor pretended to be someone I’m not. I pledge to be a better man tomorrow.”
Mr Trump said later on Twitter: “The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly. I will never drop out of the race. I will never let my supporters down.” Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent, called her rival’s behaviour “horrific”. She added: “We cannot allow this man to become president.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California, said he would for the first time not vote Republican. He said: “I want to remind fellow Republicans it is not only acceptable to choose your country over your party, it is your duty.”
Robert De Niro, the actor, said of Mr Trump: “I’d like to punch him in the face. He’s a punk, a dog, a pig, a con.”
Carly Fiorina, who contested the Republican nomination, also disowned Mr Trump. “Donald Trump does not represent me or my party,” she said in a Facebook post. “I understand the responsibility of Republicans to support their nominee. Our nominee has weighty responsibilities as well. Donald Trump has manifestly failed in these responsibilities.” John Kasich, the Republican governor of the key state of Ohio, withdrew support and called Mr Trump’s comments “disgusting”.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, the most senior elected Republican, disinvited Mr Trump from a political event they were to attend together, but stopped short of withdrawing his endorsement. Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever.”
Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said: “This feels like it is quickly becoming a political ‘game over’. Trump is going to have to pull a rabbit out of his hat in order to turn things around.”
There were fears of more damaging sexual revelations to come.
Erin Burnett, a CNN anchorwoman, said a friend told her Mr Trump had once tried to kiss her in the manner described in the Access Hollywood tape.
“Trump took a Tic Tac [mint] suggesting I take them also,” the friend told Ms Burnett. “He then leaned in, catching me off guard, and kissed me almost on the lips. I was freaked out.”
The revelations came in the same week as accusations that Mr Trump had demeaned women on his TV show
The Apprentice, rating female contestants by the size of their breasts. In an interview with the New York
Times, Jill Harth, who filed and then withdrew a sexual harassment case against Mr Trump in 1997, claimed he
had grabbed her bottom. She said: “He was trying to kiss me. I was freaking out. He thinks he is God’s gift to women.”
Mr Trump emerged briefly from Trump Tower in Manhattan last night, waving to supporters who had gathered outside the building. He said his wife and daughter Ivanka were supporting him. He told the Wall Street
Journal: “They fully understand and they’re very loyal.” Mrs Trump said: “The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that 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.”