Defiant Donald hits out at Republicans deserting him and tries to turn the tables on Clinton: Trump attacks 'self-righteous hypocrites' condemning his hot mic tape comments and tweets Bill rape claims ahead of crunch debate 

  • Donald Trump tweeted his thanks to his supporters on Sunday morning
  • Republican presidential nominee wrote he's had 'tremendous support'
  • But added 'except for some Republican "leadership"' in the tweet
  • Droves of Republicans condemned Trump or withdrew their support 
  • Some called for him to drop out over tape in which Trump used lewd words
  • Later, Trump tweeted again calling the GOP 'self-righteous hypocrites'
  • He retweeted Juanita Broaddrick, who claims she was raped by Bill Clinton
  • Will likely use Broaddrick during the debate against Hillary Clinton  

Donald Trump is under pressure come out swinging in tonight's crucial presidential debate with Hillary Clinton by pointedly referencing sexual assault allegations made against her husband Bill and criticizing the Republican leaders who have attempted to sever their ties with him in the past 48 hours.

A flurry of Tweets from Trump attempting to wrest back the conversation come just two days after the damning release of a 2005 tape in which he can be heard making vulgar sexual remarks about women with then-Access Hollywood reporter Billy Bush.

Bush is said to be apologizing for his role in the explicit clip on the Today show, where he is now a host, on Monday.  

At first Trump thanked his supporters for standing by him but hit out at senior Republicans who have either denounced him or withdrawn their endorsements.

'Tremendous support (except for some Republican "leadership"). Thank you,' Trump wrote. 

After a series of retweets from his supporters who called the GOP establishment 'traitors' who 'don't count' in the election, Trump sent out another a tweet aimed at the Republicans. 

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Donald Trump sent out this tweet following a tumultuous 48 hours after droves of Republicans denounced him for his lewd comments made in a 2005 hot mic tape that leaked on Friday 

Donald Trump sent out this tweet following a tumultuous 48 hours after droves of Republicans denounced him for his lewd comments made in a 2005 hot mic tape that leaked on Friday 

After a series of retweets from his supporters who called the GOP establishment 'traitors' who 'don't count' in the election, Trump sent out another a tweet aimed at the Republicans

After a series of retweets from his supporters who called the GOP establishment 'traitors' who 'don't count' in the election, Trump sent out another a tweet aimed at the Republicans

A few hours after the tweets were posted, Trump (left) was spotted leaving Trump Tower in Manhattan

A few hours after the tweets were posted, Trump (left) was spotted leaving Trump Tower in Manhattan

Trump (top, left) braved the rain to make his way to St Louis, Missouri, to face Hillary Clinton in the second presidential debate on Sunday

Trump (top, left) braved the rain to make his way to St Louis, Missouri, to face Hillary Clinton in the second presidential debate on Sunday

Despite the harsh rain and cold weather, one protester donned a pig costume to protest outside Trump tower 

Despite the harsh rain and cold weather, one protester donned a pig costume to protest outside Trump tower 

'So many self-righteous hypocrites. Watch their poll numbers - and elections - go down!' he wrote. 

Many of the Republicans who have denounced Trump are involved in down ballot elections this November and could be distancing themselves to better their chances at re-election.

Just minutes after the initial tweet, Trump tweeted again - this time posting a Breitbart video of Juanita Broaddrick, who has accused Bill Clinton of raping her.

Trump's tweets might be a window into his strategy at Sunday night's debate 

The Trump campaign says the Republican presidential nominee may describe Bill Clinton's sexual history in criminal terms at Sunday's debate.

Former mayor Rudy Giuliani said Trump wouldn't hesitate to talk about 'the women that Bill Clinton raped, sexually abused and attacked'.

Trump spent most of Saturday inside Trump Tower, only coming out to greet supporters, as his campaign dealt with fallout from the tapes

Trump spent most of Saturday inside Trump Tower, only coming out to greet supporters, as his campaign dealt with fallout from the tapes

Trump, who has previously threatened to use the former president's infidelities in his battle Clinton, retweeted two posts from Broaddrick on Saturday

Trump, who has previously threatened to use the former president's infidelities in his battle Clinton, retweeted two posts from Broaddrick on Saturday

Trump followed the first retweet moments later by sharing a second comment from Broaddrick

Trump followed the first retweet moments later by sharing a second comment from Broaddrick

Trump, who has previously threatened to use the former president's infidelities in his battle Clinton, retweeted two posts from Broaddrick on Saturday.

The first post from Broaddrick read: 'How many times must it be said? Actions speak louder than words. DT said bad things! HRC threatened me after BC raped me.'

Trump followed the first retweet moments later by sharing a second comment from Broaddrick. 

Trump retweeted posts from Juanita Broaddrick (pictured) who has claimed Bill Clinton raped her

Trump retweeted posts from Juanita Broaddrick (pictured) who has claimed Bill Clinton raped her

'Hillary calls Trump's remarks "horrific" while she lives with and protects a "Rapist". Her actions are horrific,' it read.

Bill Clinton has long denied Broaddrick's accusations, and Hillary has declined to address them. 

Broaddrick's accusations that Bill Clinton raped her in 1978 have never tested in criminal court.

Giuliani said Trump will cast Hillary Clinton's 'as the attacker' of women when she claims to be their champion. 

Trump bringing them up appears to contradict claims he made on Friday, when the Republican nominee said he would not bring up Bill Clinton's past.  

Trump supporters also heckled Bill Clinton at a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday, according to the New York Daily News

'You’re a rapist. Bill Clinton is a rapist,' a man shouted. 

Trump supporters also heckled Bill Clinton (pictured) at a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday

Trump supporters also heckled Bill Clinton (pictured) at a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday

After two men were escorted out of the hall Clinton said: 'They had a bad day yesterday so they¿re trying to make it up'

After two men were escorted out of the hall Clinton said: 'They had a bad day yesterday so they’re trying to make it up'

The interruption was brief and security booted two men before the event continued. 

'You gotta feel sorry for them. They had a bad day yesterday so they’re trying to make it up,' Clinton said.

On Saturday, droves of establishment Republicans denounced Trump's statements, retracted their endorsements or called for him to drop out of the race. 

Clinton boarded her campaign plane early on Sunday despite cold and rainy weather in New York

Clinton boarded her campaign plane early on Sunday despite cold and rainy weather in New York

Clinton  was spotted en route to St. Louis for the second presidential debate with Trump

Clinton was spotted en route to St. Louis for the second presidential debate with Trump

 Many suspect Trump will go after Hillary using Broaddrick's claims at the debate on Sunday

 Many suspect Trump will go after Hillary using Broaddrick's claims at the debate on Sunday

The lack of support continued into Sunday as one Republican took to NBC's 'Meet The Press' saying Republicans can't win the White House with Donald Trump as their presidential nominee

Senator Mike Lee said  having Trump at the top of the ticket could drag down other Republicans.

Lee says both Trump and his backers can cement a lasting legacy if he were to step aside, allowing Republicans to find a candidate who can bring together all elements within the party and defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton. 

But new data shows that voters want Trump to stay in the race. 

New data shows that voters want Trump to stay in the race and 74 per cent of voters think the GOP should back the nominee

New data shows that voters want Trump to stay in the race and 74 per cent of voters think the GOP should back the nominee

WHO ARE THE REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP OR CALLED ON HIM TO DROP OUT?

Illinois Senator Mark Kirk

Utah Senator Mike Lee

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan   

Virginia Representative Barbara Comstock

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake

New Jersey Representative Scott Garrett 

Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby 

Nevada Representative Joe Heck

South Dakota Senator John Thune 

New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte 

Utah Governor Gary Hebert 

Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz 

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo  

South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard

Texas Congressman Will Hurd 

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval 

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham 

Maine Senator Susan Collins

Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenbury

California Congressman David Valadao 

Arizona Senator John McCain 

Utah Governor Gary Hebert 

Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner

Former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina 

Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer

Nevada Congressman Cresent Hardy

Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski

Utah Congresswoman Mia Love

Pennsylvania Congressman Charlie Dent

Michigan Congressman Fred Upton 

Colorado Senator Cory Gardner

Colorado Senate nominee Darryl Glenn 

Florida Congressman Tom Rooney 

New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo 

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman 

Utah Congressman Chris Stewart

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley 

Michigan Congressman Justin Amash 

WHICH REPUBLICANS HAVE DENOUNCED DONALD TRUMP OR CONDEMNED HIS COMMENTS?

Ohio Senator Rob Portman

Former New York Governor George Pataki 

Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman 

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker

Minnesota Congressman Erik Paulsen 

Former presidential candidate Ben Carson   

Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse 

Alabama Representative Bradley Byrne

West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito 

RNC Chair Reince Priebus

 Ohio Governor John Kasich 

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson

New York Congressman Chris Collins 

Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson

Texas Governor Greg Abbott 

Nebraska Governor Pete Rickets

Running mate Mike Pence

Republican Speaker Paul Ryan 

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell 

Former presidential nominee Mitt Romney 

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush  

Texas Senator Ted Cruz 

Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey

Florida Senator Marco Rubio

Illinois Congressman Robert Dold

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker 

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch 

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr

Indiana Congressman Todd Young 

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst 

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory

A majority of Republican voters - 74 per cent - want the party to stand behind the candidate, according to Politico. Only 13 per cent want them to back away. 

That poll also shows that 39 per cent of voters feel Trump should end his campaign while 45 per cent say he should stay in the race. 

On the other side of the aisle, the numbers are more extreme. 

Democrats want Trump out at about 70 per cent.    

The Politico poll is the first to gauge the public's reaction the release of the 2005 tape in which Trump says he tried to hit on Nancy O'Dell, who is married. 

Trump also made comments about groping women and how he can do 'whatever he wants' because he's a star. 

Another poll, taken on Friday and Saturday by YouGov, took some preliminary looks at how the tapes skewed men and women's decisions this election. 

Trump told the Wall Street Journal that there is 'zero chance' he'll quit the race for the White House

Trump told the Wall Street Journal that there is 'zero chance' he'll quit the race for the White House

Trump apologized for the words he said in 2005 that were released on Friday in a video posted early Saturday 

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've never said I'm a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone I'm not,' Trump said in a video statement

For the most part, the tapes didn't change the minds of any staunch supporters. 

While the majority of people said the tapes didn't make their views of Trump any worse, 44 per cent in Ohio and 47 per cent in Pennsylvania - battleground states that Trump needs to win - said the tapes made their views of Trump worse. 

There is a slight gender gap on how men and women view the comments made on the tapes.  

In Pennsylvania, 53 per cent of women said that the tape made them view Trump more unfavorably to men's 42 per cent, CBS News reported.   

On Saturday, Trump also thanked supporters who turned up at a party unity rally in Wisconsin - an event that Trump was uninvited to by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

The rally was in Ryan's congressional district.

At the event, Ryan was booed and heckled by Trump supporters, who shouted 'Shame on you!' and 'You turned your backs on us!'

Despite condemning Trump's words and uninviting him, Ryan has not withdrawn his endorsement. 

As pressure from establishment Republicans mounted on Saturday, Trump released several statements saying there is 'zero chance' he'll drop out of the race 

Trump's tweeting comes after a day that saw more than 50 prominent Republican figures either call for him to drop out of the presidential race, or denounce the comments he made on the recording released by the on Friday.  

On Sunday morning, Hillary Clinton's running mate Time Kaine made an appearance on CNN's State Of The Union to discuss Trump's hot mic incident. 

Kaine said 'it is much more than words'.

Kaine noted that Trump has previously made disparaging remarks about women. 

He said, 'There's kind of a piece of the jigsaw puzzle missing in Donald Trump where he does not look at women and consider them as equal to himself.'

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