Drop out Trump! Senior Republicans call for the GOP candidate to step down immediately as Speaker Paul Ryan insists he is 'sickened' by The Donald's lewd comments but refuses to take back his endorsement 

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Prominent Republicans have slammed Donald Trump's 'reprehensible comments' and called for him to drop out of the presidential race, after a shocking recording emerged of him boasting he can get away with 'anything' when trying to bed a woman.

The Washington Post published a recording on Friday in which Trump was heard bragging about his power over women, while he also detailed how he tried to seduce married woman, Nancy O'Dell.

'I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try and f*** her. She was married', Trump says in the recording that was made during his visit to NBC's Access Hollywood set in September 2005 .

A number of prominent Republicans have slammed Donald Trump's 'reprehensible comments' and called for him to drop out of the presidential race, after controversial comments he made in 2005 emerged on Friday

'And I moved on her very heavily... I moved on her like a b***h, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married.' 

He went on to say: 'You know 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.'

Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, was scathing in his criticism of Trump. 

Trump was caught on camera bragging about how he can get away with 'anything' when trying to bed a woman

The recording also included Trump detailing how he tried to seduce Entertainment Tonight co-host Nancy O'Dell

'Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world,' Romney tweeted.

Jeb Bush, who was defeated by Trump in the race for the Republican nomination, also slammed the candidate.  

'As the grandfather of two precious girls, I find that no apology can excuse away Donald Trump's reprehensible comments degrading women,' Bush tweeted. 

Ted Cruz, another hopeful who lost the GOP nomination to Trump, said: 'These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them... Every wife, mother, daughter -- every person -- deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.' 

Mitt Romney said Trump's comment 'corrupt America's face to the world' in a tweet on Friday night

Jeb Bush, who was defeated by Trump in the Republican primaries, said there is 'no apology' that can excuse what the nominee was recorded saying in 2005

National political director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Rob Engstrom said Trump is, 'fundamentally offensive and unqualified' to be leader.

'Trump should step down immediately tonight, yielding to Governor Pence as the GOP Nominee,' he tweeted. 

Republican Speaker Paul Ryan said he was 'sickened' by the comments from Trump, adding he will not campaign with Trump in Wisconsin on Saturday as had been scheduled.

'Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified. I hope Mr Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggest. In the meantime, he is no longer attending tomorrow's event in Wisconsin,' Ryan said in a statement.

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk was one of the first Republicans to publicly call for Trump to drop out after the comments surfaced

Kirk called for Trump to drop out of the race on Friday night, saying the party should 'engage rules for emergency replacement'

However, some prominent Republicans - including sitting Senators - were harsher in their criticism of the nominee, with some calling for him to drop out.

'Donald Trump should drop out. GOP should engage rules for emergency replacement,' Illinois Senator Mark Kirk tweeted. 

'Donald's comments were vulgar, egregious and impossible to justify. No one should ever talk about any woman in those terms, even in private,' Senator Marco Rubio wrote.

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake tweeted: 'America deserves far better than @realDonaldTrump.' 

'Make no mistake the comments were wrong and offensive. They are indefensible,' former 2016 Republican hopeful John Kasich said. 

Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman said: 'For the good of the country, and to give Republicans a chance at defeating Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump should step aside. … Mr. Trump should put the country first and do the right thing.' 

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman was another to call for Trump to step aside, saying the campaign has become a 'race to the bottom'

2008 Republican nominee John McCain (pictured with Sarah Palin) said in a statement: 'There are no excuses for Donald Trump's offensive and demeaning comments'

McCain's daughter, Meghan. also weighed in on the controversial comments, tweeting: 'This godforsaken election. This vile excuse for a nominee. I cannot find the humor in any of this'

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman was another to call for Trump to step aside, but he added vice presidential candidate Mike Pence should step in as the replacement.

'In a campaign cycle that has been nothing but a race to the bottom — at such a critical moment for our nation — and with so many who have tried to be respectful of a record primary vote, the time has come for Governor Pence to lead the ticket,' Huntsman told the Salt Lake Tribune. 

Utah Senator Mike Lee also slammed Trump, saying: 'Donald Trump is a distraction. It's time for him to step aside so we can focus on the winning ideas that will carry Republicans through to a victory in November.' 

John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, released a statement on Trump's remarks.

Ted Cruz, another hopeful who lost the GOP nomination to Trump, said the comments were 'disturbing and inappropriate'

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake slammed Donald Trump's comments, saying the US deserves better than the Republican nominee

'There are no excuses for Donald Trump's offensive and demeaning comments. No woman should ever be victimized by this kind of inappropriate behavior,' the statement read.

'He along bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences.' 

McCain's daughter, Meghan, also weighed in on the controversial comments.

'This godforsaken election. This vile excuse for a nominee. I cannot find the humor in any of this,' she said.

A number of prominent conservative media figures and GOP strategists also took aim at Trump over the recording that emerged on Friday

Minnesota congressman Erik Paulsen tweeted: 'Donald Trump's words released today are disgusting and offensive.' 

Other conservative figures and GOP strategists took aim at Trump's statements.

'Well Evangelicals, ur (sic) presidential candidate claims he's never needed to ask forgiveness for knowingly trying to sleep with a married woman,' Fox News personality Erick Erickson said.

'This is going to create problems for Trump with: 1. Women 2. Men who know women 3. Evanglcal Christians 4. Anyone w/ emotional age over 9,' Wisconsin Republican Charlie Sykes tweeted.

The married woman Trump was heard in the recording saying he tried to seduce was revealed to be Entertainment Tonight co-host Nancy O'Dell

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall in Sandown, New Hampshire

'I know they think nothing matters, but some GOP pols need to understand that defending Trump on this could be career ending for them,' Sykes continued.

GOP media adviser Rick Wilson even warned there is still worse to come regarding Trump.

'If you think this is anywhere near the most morally repugnant thing about Trump to come out before the election, you're going to be shocked,' he tweeted.

However, the Republican nominee still had some supporters, with right-wing media personalities Sean Hannity and Bill Mitchell leaping to Trump's defense.

'Trump refers to women "LETTING" him do anything because he is rich and famous. "LETTING" indicates consent, NOT ASSAULT,' Mitchell tweeted, before bizarrely comparing the candidate to religious figures.

'What's interesting is that if you look at the Bible's heroes, they are exactly like Trump. Flawed but redeemed... An imperfect soul like Trump is EXACTLY the type of person God always uses to lead his people. The pious are the enemy.'