One of Donald Trump's Vile Conversations About Women Was Caught on Tape
We've officially reached the point in the 2016 presidential election where you have to sit back and wonder: "Is this real life?" The Washington Post acquired a video featuring GOP candidate Donald Trump and TV host Billy Bush having a vile conversation about women, unaware that their microphones were still recording behind the scenes of a 2005 Access Hollywood segment.
Trump, who has spent the past weeks bad-mouthing Bill Clinton's past treatment of women, can be heard in the video saying that women will allow you to "grab them by the p*ssy" when you're famous and discussing his failed sexual advances on a married woman. And somehow, those aren't even the worst parts. Keep in mind that at the time of recording, the businessman had just married his third (and current) wife, Melania.
Trump (or, as he was called in this video, "The Donald") issued a statement regarding the video, and it was as unapologetic and shameless as one would expect at this point in his sexism-riddled presidential campaign:
"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. I apologize if anyone was offended."
We've pulled some of the most troubling lines from Trump below, but you should watch it for yourself to understand the full extent of his attitude toward women.
"I moved on her and I failed. I'll admit it. I did try and f*ck her. She was married . . . I moved on her like a b*tch, 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."
"Ooh, nice legs, huh?"
"I've gotta 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. Grab them by the p*ssy, you can do anything."
When confronted about his mistreatment of women in the past, Trump has denied any sexist tendencies. Recently, he stated that many of his offensive statements to and about women were for entertainment purposes: "A lot of that was done for the purpose of entertainment, there's nobody that has more respect for women than I do." In fact, he proclaims that "all" are impressed by his nice attitude toward women.
After the video of Trump and Bush began making the rounds, though, the internet seems anything but impressed.
Just listened to Trump convo with Billy Bush.
Can't decide if it's worse that this is a presidential nominee or a man who has 2 daughters.— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) October 7, 2016
"Grab them by the p---y," Trump says. "You can do anything." And Billy Bush is like, OK! -This is rape culture. This is what we hear & live
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) October 7, 2016
If anyone is confused about what rape culture is just listen to that leaked Donald Trump tape and the way Billy Bush plays along.
— Kate Spencer (@katespencer) October 7, 2016
Donald Trump thinks "when you're a star" you "can do anything" to women? Well you can't make me vote for you, you misogynistic entitled pig.
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) October 7, 2016