After The Washington Post published a leaked 2005 video in which Trump bragged to Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush about how he was able to grope women because he’s famous, finally some Republicans in Congress are beginning to distance themselves from Trump.
While more than 30 former elected Republican congressmen released a letter denouncing Trump as “manifestly unqualified to be president” this week, none of the controversial statements made by the former “Apprentice” star have caused current Republican office holders to reconsider their support — until now.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, who reluctantly endorsed Trump as he began to ramp up attacks on the judge presiding over a Trump University lawsuit, cancelled his first joint campaign stop with Trump on Saturday and said he was “sickened” by Trump’s comments. “No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “Ever.” Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this is “enough” and Trump should “withdraw”, while Arizona Senator John McCain is withdrawing his support for Trump, “Cindy and I will not vote for Donald Trump.” Some Republicans also showed a bit more courage ,calling for Trump to step down and, in one case, even revoking an endorsement. after The Washington Post published a leaked 2005 video in which Trump bragged to Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush about how he was able to grope women because he’s famous, finally some Republicans in Congress are beginning to distance themselves from Trump.
While more than 30 former elected Republican congressmen released a letter denouncing Trump as “manifestly unqualified to be president” this week, none of the controversial statements made by the former “Apprentice” star have caused current Republican officeholders to reconsider their support — until now.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, who reluctantly endorsed Trump as he began to ramp up attacks on the judge presiding over a Trump University lawsuit, cancelled his first joint campaign stop with Trump on Saturday and said he was “sickened” by Trump’s comments.
“No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “Ever.”
Some Republicans also showed a bit more courage ,calling for Trump to step down and, in one case, even revoking an endorsement. Colorado Representative Mike Coffman followed suit, urging Trump to “step aside.”
According to CBS Denver, the GOP congressman released a statement Friday: “For the good of the country, and to give the Republicans a chance of defeating Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump should step aside. His defeat at this point seems almost certain. And four years of Hillary Clinton is not what is best for this country. Mr. Trump should put the country first and do the right thing.”
Even in the red state of Alabama, CNN reported that Representative Martha Roby said that “Donald Trump’s behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president, and I won’t vote for him.”
Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, also announced that he is withdrawing his support for Trump.
“I’m out,” Chaffetz told KSTU Friday night. “I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president. It is some of the most abhorrent and offensive comments that you can possibly imagine.”
Chaffetz cited his wife and 15-year-old daughter during his dis-endorsement. One top Republican fundraiser told Bloomberg News that some GOP donors have already begun to look into whether it’s possible to replace Trump as the party’s presidential nominee.