Donald Trump is facing loud criticism from his own Republican allies after a video of the presidential nominee making lewd comments about women surfaced on Friday.
Speaker Paul Ryan said he’s ‘sickened’ by Trump’s comments, and called on him to show respect for women.
“Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified. I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests,” Ryan said.
Ryan added that Trump was “no longer attending” a joint campaign appearance set for Saturday in Wisconsin.
The Washington Post released the video, in which Trump is heard saying he tried to have sex with a married woman, but failed, and that when you are a star, you “can do anything” to women.
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While Democratic rival Hillary Clinton called the comments “horrific,” Trump has also been under a barrage of other attacks from his own party.
“No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner,” said GOP chairman Reince Priebus. “Ever.”
New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who is locked in a tough re-election fight and this week reversed herself to say Trump was not a good role model for children, said his comments “are totally inappropriate and offensive.”
Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, was “beside himself” and his wife was furious, according to a person familiar with their thinking. That person spoke on the condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to share the private discussion.
Pence reportedly ducked reporters after the video was published.
Pence was eating a chilli dog with his daughter during a campaign stop when the news broke, Politico reported, while reporters following his campaign were unexpectedly told he was leaving.
But an aide told Politico that the abrupt ending to the event was normal procedure and not related to the video.
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, whom Trump beat in the party’s primaries, wrote on Twitter: “As the grandfather of two precious girls, I find that no apology can excuse away Donald Trump’s reprehensible comments degrading women.”
An anonymous advisor to Trump told CNN the story was “flat out appalling,” and others aren’t sure Trump can recover from this.
“Another day in Trump world … I hate it,” the advisor told CNN.
Online reaction to the story has been swift and ugly.
*with files from the Associated Press.
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