In newly unearthed video and audio from 2005 published by the Washington Post and NBC News on Friday, Donald Trump talks about women in terms that are stunningly vile and misogynistic – even for him.
Trump's hatred of women is, of course, nothing new, but the leaked comments represent a new low for the Republican presidential nominee, at least in public.
The video captures Trump speaking with Billy Bush, then the host of “Access Hollywood" who now co-hosts the "Today" show, while traveling on the show's tour bus to the set of the soap "Days of our Lives," where Trump was taping an appearance.
During the taped conversation, Trump talks about the ease of seducing women when when you're famous, saying, "When you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."
The New York City real estate mogul also talked about his attempted courting of a particular woman.
“I did try and fuck her. She was married," he said on the tape. "I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything. She’s totally changed her look.”
Trump was married to his current wife, Melania, at the time of the recording.
Shortly after the video was published, Bush—who can be heard in the video eagerly lapping Trump's comments up and trading vulgar quips with him—saw his Facebook page deluged with angry messages.
LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO FROM NBC NEWS:
In a statement posted on his website, Trump said: “This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course - not even close." He also said, "I apologize if anyone was offended.”
Of course, this is far from the first time Trump has made demeaning remarks about women. Although he claims on the campaign trail to "cherish" women, he has publicly called them pigs and slobs, chastised them for their appearance, and implied that he sees them only as sexual objects.
Note: this post originally said Billy Bush deleted his Twitter account after the video was published. In fact, he deleted it after the controversy about his interview with Ryan Lochte at the Olympics.