‘Predator’ tycoon triggers laughter

In an amusing moment during the fiery final presidential debate, Donald Trump’s assertion that “nobody has more respect for women” than him evoked laughter from the audience, prompting the moderator to step in and hush them.

The third and final debate was characterised by heated exchanges between the 70-year-old Republican candidate and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Mr Trump dismissed as “totally false” the sexual assault allegations against him and insisted that Ms Clinton’s husband Bill has been accused of worse attitudes towards women and she should be held accountable for him.

Ms Clinton said: “Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth, and I don’t think there is a woman anywhere who doesn’t know what that feels like.”

Mr Trump interjected: “Nobody has more respect for women than I do. Nobody.” At which point, laughter from the audience was audible.

He repeated: “Nobody has more respect”, prompting debate moderator Chris Wallace to try and hush the crowd, urging: “Please, everybody.” Mr Trump has been accused of various accounts of sexual harassment. A 2005 video, obtained by the Washington Post, captures Mr Trump having an extremely lewd conversation about women.

It was after the emergence of the video that Mr Trump’s presidential campaign has been jolted with Ms Clinton taking a substantial lead over him in national opinion polls.

Mr Trump is also facing accusations of sexual assault and inappropriate touching, with as many as nine women coming out with allegations against him.

Earlier this week, his wife Melania defended his comments, saying he had been “egged on” by “boy talk”. She insisted allegations against him are “lies”, telling CNN, “I believe my husband. I believe my husband.”