Politicians in both parties reacted swiftly Friday to the release of a 2005 recording of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump making crass comments about women, prompting Trump to release a video apology late Friday even as he vowed to stay in the race.
The video released earlier Friday by The Washington Post and NBC News captured lewd audio of Trump bragging in vulgar terms about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women as he and Billy Bush, then-host of “Access Hollywood,” wait to film a segment on Trump’s 2005 cameo on “Days of Our Lives.”
In a statement released by his campaign shortly after the “Access Hollywood” video broke, Trump said: “This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course – not even close. I apologize if anyone was offended.”
Trump released a 90-second video statement on Facebook near midnight Friday saying he regrets his comments and apologizing. “I pledge to be a better man tomorrow,” Trump said. But he also said “we’re living in the real world” and called the crude comments a distraction. He said “others have done worse” and repeated accusations targeting Bill Clinton’s treatment of women.
For his part, Billy Bush released a statement through his employer, NBC, saying that he was “embarrassed and ashamed” by the recording. Bush said he was younger and less mature when the incident took place, and that he “acted foolishly” in playing along with Trump’s crass remarks. He apologized for his role in the comments.
Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, initially ignored questions from reporters on Trump’s remarks while campaigning in Ohio.
On Saturday, however, Pence’s advocacy for Trump came to a screeching, perhaps temporary.
Pence said in a statement about Trump that he won’t “condone his remarks and cannot defend them.”
“We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night,” the Indiana governor said.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton responded to Trump’s comments on Twitter, calling them “horrific” and adding, “We cannot allow this man to become president.”