Trump apologizes for lewd comments about women: I was wrong

by Jonathan Easley - 10/08/16 12:13 AM ET

Donald Trump released a video after midnight Friday apologizing for lewd 2005 remarks caught on a tape that have plunged his campaign into chaos less than 48 hours before the second presidential debate.

Trump was also defiant in the video, saying while his words were foolish there is a “big difference” between them and former President Bill Clinton’s “abuse” of women in the White House. He also called the discussion surrounding his comments a distraction.

“I never said I’m a perfect person nor pretended to be someone I’m not,” Trump said. “I’ve said and done things I regret and the words released today on this more than decade-old video are one of them. These words don’t reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong and I apologize.

He added that his travels around the country for the campaign has changed him and that he would “be a better man.”

“I’ve said some foolish things, but there is a big difference between the words and actions of other people Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, intimidated and shamed his victims,” Trump said in the video posted to his Facebook page.

“Let’s be honest, we are living in the real world. this is nothing more than a distraction from the important issues we are facing today. We are losing our jobs, we are less safe than we were eight years ago, and Washington is totally broken.”

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

Trump’s lewd comments spiraled into a scandal on Friday afternoon after The Washington Post published video caught on a hot microphone before an appearance on “Access Hollywood.”

The GOP nominee talked about unsuccessfully trying to bed a married woman and said that as a celebrity, women let him “do anything.”

“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,” he said in the audio.

“Grab them by the p—-.”

Democrats have seized onto the comments to tar Trump as a misogynist and predatory, casting all those that endorsed him as culpable.

Top Republicans like party chairman Reince Priebus, House Speaker Paul Ryan and others have all repudiated Trump, but only Reps. Jason Chaffetz (Utah) and Barbara Comstock (Va.) have withdrawn their endorsements in response to the comments.

Tags Bill Clinton Donald Trump Jason Chaffetz Paul Ryan