'Unacceptable and offensive': MELANIA condemns Trump's hot mic comments as several GOP figures withdraw their endorsements - but defiant Donald says there's 'zero chance I'll quit'
- Melania Trump has denounced her husband's remarks in a 2005 video
- Donald Trump has been criticized by members of GOP for lewd comments
- Despite this, Trump says there is 'zero chance' he'll quit the race
- Running mate Mike Pence is said to be 'beside himself' one report said
- Pence was originally supposed to take Trump's place at Wisconsin event
- He later canceled and released a statement denouncing the comments
- None of Trump's children have spoken publicly about the 2005 video
- Many prominent Republicans have called for Trump to drop out of race
- Others have rescinded support and distanced themselves from Trump
- Trump apologizes for words said in 2005 that were released Friday
- Trump bragged about trying to seduce a married woman in 2005 audio
Melania Trump has called her husband's lewd remarks about women from a 2005 video 'unacceptable and offensive'.
In a statement released Saturday afternoon, Melania said despite the degrading words used, they do not represent Donald Trump today.
'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 out nation and the world,' the statement said.
Melania Trump has called her husband's lewd remarks about women from a 2005 video 'unacceptable and offensive' in a statement
The 2005 video, in which Trump talked about hitting on a married woman and kissing beautiful women, was filmed just months after Melania and Trump were married
Donald Trump sent out a tweet, joking about the release of a video, which caught him making lewd comments about women
Trump told the Wall Street Journal that there is 'zero chance' he'll quit the race for the White House
In the 2005 clip, Trump talks about trying to have sex with a married woman and how he 'can do whatever he wants' to women because he's a star, just months after marrying Melania.
Melania's disavowal of the comments is the latest among dozens of Republicans who have denounced the GOP nominee's comments in the 2005 video.
None of Trump's children, who have been some of his most fierce surrogates, have spoken out since the comments went public.
But Trump seems unfazed and was tweeting again and claiming his campaign isn't in crisis on Saturday.
'The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly - I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA,' Trump tweeted on Saturday.
Trump told the Wall Street Journal that there is 'zero chance' he'll quit. He also said he's getting 'unbelievable' support from his backers, the Journal reported.
Trump apologized for the words he said in 2005 that were released on Friday in a video posted early Saturday
'I've never said I'm a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone I'm not,' Trump said in a video statement
'I never, ever give up. The support I'm getting is unbelievable, because Hillary Clinton is a horribly flawed candidate,' Trump said to the Wall Street Journal on Saturday.
He also said that the controversy would 'blow over' like his attack on Senator John McCain and his proposed ban on Muslim immigrants.
When the paper asked him about the sexual statements he replied: 'People get it. They get life.'
Just before 11am, Trump sent out a tweet that said: 'Certainly has been an interesting 24 hours!'
The vague tweet comes just hours after Trump's running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, was said to be 'beside himself' over the Donald's comments.
Pence released a statement on Saturday saying: 'As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday.
Kellyanne Conway (pictured, ledt), campaign manager for the Republican presidential candidate, arrived at Trump Tower on Saturday
Conway was pounded with questions but refused to make a statement about Trump's video
A woman holds up a newspaper with a headline quoting Donald Trump outside of Trump Tower in Manhattan
The entertainer Naked Cowboy stands in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan after Trump's comments were made public
'I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people.
'We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when the goes before the nation tomorrow night.'
Pence was supposed to represent Trump at a Wisconsin event with speaker of the house Paul Ryan after Ryan said he was 'sickened' by Trump's remarks, but later canceled.
'I am sickened by what I heard today. 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 suggests,' Ryan said in a statement.
Trump made sexual comments about women to Billy Bush (right) while talking about his attempts to hit on a married woman and said he can 'do whatever you wants' because he's a star
The comments were caught on a hot mic during an appearance on Access Hollywood in 2005
Pence's wife Karen is also said to be furious, according to the Associated Press.
Several Republicans have either called for Trump to drop out or rescinded their support.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Trump's comments were 'repugnant, and unacceptable in any circumstance'. He called on Trump to make a greater apology than the one he released early Saturday.
Trump apologized for the statements made in the short video released on Friday with his own video posted to Twitter just after midnight on Saturday.
'I've never said I'm a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone I'm not. I've said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them,' the Republican nominee said in the statement.
'Anyone who knows me, knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.'
Trump then went on to say he has 'changed' while travelling the country as part of his campaign as a result of being impacted by the people he has met.
Many Republican leaders deemed the remarks as reprehensible and called on Trump to drop out while others rescinded their support
'I have gotten to know the great people of our country, and I have been humbled by the faith they have placed in me. I pledge to be a better man tomorrow, and will never, ever let you down,' he said.
Trump then called the controversy a 'distraction', before pivoting into an attack on Hillary and Bill Clinton.
'Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed, and intimidated his victims,' he said.
'We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.'
He also said the US is losing jobs, is less safe than it was when Barack Obama took office, and that 'Washington is totally broken'.
But McConnell had asked for a full apology directed at women and girls on Friday.
Idaho Senator Mike Crapo (left) and New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte (right) have officially said they can no longer vote for Trump
Ayotte once called Trump a 'role model' but later said she misspoke and then fully retracted her support on Saturday
Crapo said conservative leadership is needed in the White House but said Trump was not the right candidate
'As the father of three daughters, I strongly believe that Trump needs to apologize directly to women and girls everywhere, and take full responsibility for the utter lack of respect for women shown in his comments on that tape,' McConnell said.
Former presidential nominee Mitt Romney tweeted: 'Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world.'
On Saturday at a rally, Romney called the video 'degrading to women' but encouraged people to come out and vote for the Republicans.
However, he never mentioned Trump by name when urging Republicans to get out and vote.
Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois tweeted: '@realDonaldTrump should drop out. @GOP should engage rules for emergency replacement.'
Echoing that sentiment, Trump's choice for a potential Supreme Court nominee, Utah Senator Mike Lee said: 'The fact is, we have been asked to settle … on matters of great principle with our candidate for president of the United States.
'This can't continue. … It is for that reason, Mr. Trump, that I respectfully ask you … to step aside. Step down. Allow someone else to carry the banner of these principles.'
Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush were two of the prominent Republican figures to attack Donald Trump over the remarks on Friday
After delivering the short apology, Trump pivoted and began to attack Hillary and Bill Clinton in the statement
Utah Governor Gary Hebert said he could no longer vote for Trump, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Former New York Governor George Pataki said: 'Trump's campaign is a poisonous mix of bigotry and ignorance. Enough! He needs to step down.'
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman and current Virginia Representative Barbara Comstock also called on Trump to step down.
'This is disgusting, vile, and disqualifying. No woman should ever be subjected to this type of obscene behavior and it is unbecoming of anybody seeking high office,' Comstock said.
Jeb Bush, who ran against Trump for the Republican nomination, tweeted: 'As the grandfather of two precious girls, I find that no apology can excuse away Donald Trump's reprehensible comments degrading women.'
One of Trump's most reluctant supporters, Texas Senator Ted Cruz tweeted: 'These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them.'
Carly Fiorina, who also ran against Trump for the nomination, said: 'Trump does not represent me or my party.'
Republican Conference chairwoman and Washington representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers said: 'It is never appropriate to condone unwanted sexual advances or violence against women.
Dozens of Republicans denounced Trump and called for him to drop out of the race, including those who ran against him for the nomination like Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush
'Mr. Trump must realize that it has no place in public or private conversations today or in the past.'
Other Republicans who were skeptical of Trump lashed out after the remarks made public on Friday.
'America deserves far better than @realDonaldTrump,' Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona tweeted.
New Hampshire senator Kelly Ayotte, who once called Trump a 'role model' said his comments were 'totally inappropriate and offensive'.
Ayotto retracted her support of the nominee as did Idaho Senator Mike Crapo.
'I have reached the decision that I can no longer endorse Donald Trump.
'This is not a decision that I have reached lightly, but his pattern of behavior has left me no choice.
Despite Republicans calling on Trump to call out, he said there is 'zero chance' it will happen
'His repeated actions and comments toward women have been disrespectful, profane and demeaning,' Crapo said in a statement.
New Jersey Republican Representative Scott Garrett says Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence would be 'the best nominee for the Republican Party to defeat Hillary Clinton.'
Garrett did not explicitly call on Trump to quit the race following the release of old video footage that features Trump making highly sexualized comments.
But Garrett says in a statement that Trump's comments 'are inexcusable.'
Social media reaction to the Donald's video statement was mixed, with some mocking the Republican nominee's 1:30 second clip.
'Trump's video statement: I apologize, I thought that G.O.P stood for 'Grabbers Of P***y',' one person tweeted.
'I can't bring myself to actually watch Trump's statement. I feel physically ill,' another wrote.
Social media reaction to the Donald's video statement from voters was mixed. Some found humor in the moment and others were disgusted
Social media was quick to react to Trump's video statement, with mixed results from fans and opponents
'You're repulsive,' another added.
But others said it was the right move for Trump to put out his video.
'Trump is smart for putting a statement out and moving forward. Hillary and the media would love to make this all the talk 4 (sic) the next 30 days,' one person tweeted.
Earlier in the day, the Washington Post published a video that was made on an Access Hollywood set in 2005 and captures Trump, newly married to Melania, discussing women with host Billy Bush.
He was also heard speaking about how he tried to seduce married woman and Entertainment Tonight co-host 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 published on Friday.
Trump was caught out making the shocking comments while on the set of Access Hollywood in 2005
It was revealed the married woman Trump bragged about trying to seduce was Entertainment Tonight co-host Nancy O'Dell
'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.'
The Republican nominee is later heard bragging about how his celebrity status allows him to do 'anything' to women.
'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,' he boasts.
'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.'
The comments have been widely condemned, with Hillary Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine speaking out against them.
Hillary Clinton slammed the comments made by Trump, describing them as 'horrific'
Donald Trump is interviewed by Billy Bush of Access Hollywood at 'Celebrity Apprentice' Red Carpet Event at Trump Tower on January 20, 2015
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