Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump scrambled to prevent his campaign from falling apart early on Saturday with a hastily prepared video statement expressing regret for making lewd comments a
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump scrambled to prevent his campaign from falling apart early on Saturday with a hastily prepared video statement expressing regret for making lewd comments about women.
Mr Trump declared himself a changed man, but in making his own defense he raised the infidelities of former President Bill Clinton and slammed his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, saying he would talk more about their past in coming days.
Disclosure of the 2005 video of Mr Trump talking on an open microphone showed the then-reality TV star speaking openly about groping women and trying to seduce a married woman. The video was taped months after Mr Trump married his third wife, Melania.
“I did try and f*** her.
She was married,”
Mr Trump said about one woman, before discussing his attraction to others.
“I just start kissing them And when you’re a star they let you do it Grab them by the p****. You can do anything,”
Mr Trump said.
The video, which landed just ahead of the second presidential debate on Sunday night, opened deep divisions within the Republican Party about how to respond, with a stream of Republican leaders condemning the remarks and some withdrawing their support for Mr Trump. With his campaign rocked to the core, Mr Trump had to issue a video statement saying, “Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise.”
