Groper Donald and the seedy seduction that could cost him the presidency: Even Trump's staunchest supporters are disgusted at his offensive comments about women

  • Politicians and celebrities continue to show outrage over Trump video
  • Despite his apology even some of his supporters are turning their backs
  • Trump said today that he will not be standing down from presidential race 

Donald Trump’s bid for the US presidency was hanging by a thread last night as a damning video of his offensive comments about women provoked disgust and condemnation from even his staunchest supporters.

Politicians and celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic called for him to pull out of the campaign after he was recorded saying that because he was a ‘star’, beautiful women let him ‘grab them by the p***y’.

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The interviewer he tried to seduce: Disgust as Nancy O'Dell interviews Trump and his then fiancee Melania

The interviewer he tried to seduce: Disgust as Nancy O'Dell interviews Trump and his then fiancee Melania

By last night there were clear signs that Trump’s support was crumbling fast as: 

  • The billionaire’s wife Melania released a statement saying his words were ‘unacceptable and offensive to me’ but did not ‘represent the man that I know’.
  • His running mate Indiana governor Mike Pence admitted he ‘cannot condone or defend’ Trump’s words;
  • Three Republican senators called for him to step aside;
  • One backer, Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, withdrew his endorsement, saying Trump’s ‘pattern of behaviour’ left him ‘no choice’;
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican when he was governor of California, said he would not be voting for his party in the presidential election for he first time since becoming an American citizen in 1983;
  • Hollywood star Robert De Niro called him ‘a punk, a dog, a pig’;
  • A former business associate of Trump’s claimed he had indecently assaulted her in 1992;
  • House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan admitted he was ‘sickened’ by the tape and cancelled an invitation for Trump to campaign in Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin.
  • Trump defiantly declared that he would ‘never, ever give up’;
Target: Nancy O'Dell, who is believed to be the TV host Trump tried to seduce

Target: Nancy O'Dell, who is believed to be the TV host Trump tried to seduce

The seedy, sexually charged comments came in 2005 as the businessman was waiting to make a cameo appearance on a TV soap opera.

The then newlywed property developer bragged about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women who were not his wife on the recordings obtained by The Washington Post and NBC News.

He boasted ‘when you’re a star, they let you do it,’ in a conversation with Billy Bush, then a host of US TV show Access Hollywood, and the cousin of ex-President George W Bush and his brother, former Florida governor Jeb.

The remarks – captured by a live microphone that Trump did not appear to know was recording their entire conversation – came months after the reality TV star married his third wife, Melania.

Donald Trump greets supporters outside of Trump Towers in Manhattan October 8, 2016 in New York City

Donald Trump greets supporters outside of Trump Towers in Manhattan October 8, 2016 in New York City

He is heard bemoaning how he tried – and failed – to seduce an unnamed woman, believed to be former Access Hollywood co-host Nancy O’Dell, saying: ‘I moved on her and I failed, I’ll admit. I did try and f*** her. She was married.

‘And I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said: “I’ll show you where they have some nice furniture.’’’

The businessman said he ‘moved on her like a b****’, before making a crass remark about the woman’s breast implants.

Then, after seeing actress Arianne Zucker on the set of the soap opera on which he was to appear, he said he needed Tic Tac breath mints ‘just in case I start kissing her’. He added: ‘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.’

THE JAW-DROPPING 'HOT MIC' TAPE

'When you-re a star... they let you do it... Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything.'

In a still taken from 2005 video. Donald Trump is seen meeting TV soap actress Arianne Zucker, accompanied by Access Hollywood host Billy Bush

In a still taken from 2005 video. Donald Trump is seen meeting TV soap actress Arianne Zucker, accompanied by Access Hollywood host Billy Bush

Trump: ‘You know and I moved on her [Nancy O’Dell] actually. You know she was down on Palm Beach. I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it.

 ‘I did try and f*** her, she was married.’

Unknown: ‘That’s huge news!’

Trump: ‘No, no, Nancy. No this was... And I moved on her very heavily in fact. I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, “I’ll show you where they have some nice furniture.”

‘I took her out for furniture. I moved on her like a b****, but I couldn’t get there, and she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phoney t**s and everything.

‘She’s totally changed her look.’

Billy Bush: ‘Sheesh, your girl’s hot as s***. In the purple.’[referring to actress Arianne Zucker] Bush: ‘Yes, the Donald has scored. Whoa, my man!’

Trump: ‘Look at you, you are a p***y. Okay, you and I will walk down.’

Trump [speaking about Zucker]: ‘Maybe it’s a different one.’

Bush: ‘It better not be the publicist. No, it’s her.’

Trump: ‘Yeah, that’s her. With the gold. I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. 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.’

Bush: ‘Whatever you want.’

Trump: ‘Grab them by the p***y. You can do anything.’

Bush: ‘Yeah those legs [referring to Zucker]. All I can see is the legs.’

Trump: ‘Oh, it looks good.’

Bush: ‘Come on, shorty.’

Trump: ‘Oh nice legs, huh?’ 

The remarks, which appeared to condone sexual assault, were swiftly condemned by Hillary Clinton’s campaign along with Republicans. ‘This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become President,’ Mrs Clinton posted on her campaign’s Twitter account.

The presidential hopeful and his campaign team appeared caught unawares by the depth of the anger following the tape’s release and a hasty initial statement simply dismissed the remarks as ‘locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago.

‘Bill Clinton has said worse to me on the golf course – not even close. I apologise if anyone was offended’.

But just a few hours later, Trump was forced to record a more considered statement.

The video’s release comes as Trump prepares to face Hillary Clinton in their second presidential debate early tomorrow UK time and as he confronts a welter of stories centring on his attitude to women.

Trump speaking to the media as he goes back into the hotel

Trump speaking to the media as he goes back into the hotel

In a New York Times report, former business associate Jill Harth revealed how the businessman had run his hands up her skirt in 1992. She said: ‘I didn’t know how to handle it. I would go away from him and say, “I have to go to the restroom”. It was the escape route.’ Yesterday, several celebrities were also quick to slam the presidential hopeful.

In a 50-second tirade, Oscar winner Robert De Niro pulled no punches, saying: ‘He’s so blatantly stupid. He’s a punk, he’s a dog, he’s a pig, a mutt who doesn’t do his homework, doesn’t care. He’s an idiot.’

He's so blatantly stupid. He's a punk, he's a dog, he's a pig 
Robert Di Niro 

Actress Ashley Judd also accused Trump of sleazy behaviour on Twitter, writing: ‘I never heard him “apologize” for talking to me & others about his family member’s spouse, and especially her breasts. THIS IS WHO HE IS.’

Terminator star Schwarzenegger – who is due to take over from Mr Trump as host of Celebrity Apprentice – also urged Americans to ‘choose your country over your party’.

Last night Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, admitted: ‘As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Trump. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them.’

Last night, Trump’s wife Melania said: ‘This does not represent the man 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 our nation and the world.’ 

HIS GRUDGING VIDEO APOLOGY

I’ve never said I’m a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that 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. Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise.

‘I’ve said some foolish things, but there’s a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.

‘We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.’

Donald Trump’s opponent Hillary Clinton lost no time in responding to his comments, describing them on Twitter as ‘horrific’. Many more politicians from both parties have taken to the internet to agree

Donald Trump’s opponent Hillary Clinton lost no time in responding to his comments, describing them on Twitter as ‘horrific’. Many more politicians from both parties have taken to the internet to agree

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