Melania Trump condemns Donald Trump's sexual assault remarks as 'unacceptable and offensive'
Ms Trump gave her statement as the campaign spirals into frenzy mode amid the fallout that has resulted from the release of the 2005 video
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Melania Trump has spoken out against her husband's vulgar remarks made about casually groping and kissing women without their consent, as the campaign scrambles to address the backlash the newly surfaced video has caused.
"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me," she said. "This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."
Ms Trump's statement comes amid massive Republican fallout in the 24 hours since the Washington Post first released the video.
The unearthed footage shows Mr Trump engaging in banter with then-Access Hollywood host Billy Bush before the New York businessman was set to film a cameo for the soap-opera, Days of Our Lives.
“I moved on her actually, she was down in Palm Beach and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try to f**k her, she was married ... and I moved on her very heavily,” a hot microphone captured Mr Trump saying about an advance he made on a married woman. "I moved on her like a b***h."
Later in the footage he says: “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,” he adds. “You can do anything… Grab ’em by the p***y.”
The Huffington Post pointed out that Ms Trump was likely pregnant with now 10-year-old son Barron when her husband made the remarks to Bush, as the segment was reportedly taped in September 2005 at the earliest. Barron was born in March the following year.
In December 2005, he made derogatory remarks about his wife's body while she was pregnant with their youngest son during an interview with radio personality Howard Stern.
"I mean, she really has become a monster – in all the right places," he said.
"I mean monster in the most positive way. She has gotten very, very large – in all the right places."
Despite criticism from Republican leaders, Mr Trump has vowed to stay in the race for the White House.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.