Top Republicans pull support from 'groper-in-chief' Donald Trump

Senior figures in the US Republican Party have condemned Donald Trump in the strongest possible terms, after his remarks about groping women were made public.

Former governor of California Arnold Schwarznegger released a statement on Twitter, saying that for the first time he "became a citizen in 1983, [he] will not vote for the Republican candidate for president."

But Nigel Farage, Ukip's interim leader, insisted that while Trump's comments were "ugly", women also made remarks they would not want to see reported.

Farage, who is in St Louis, Missouri, to support Trump during the second televised presidential debate said: "Look, this is alpha-male boasting. It's the kind of thing, if we are being honest, that men do. They sit around and have a drink and they talk like this.

"By the way, quite a lot of women say things amongst themselves that they would not want to see on Fox News or the front page of a newspaper. I'm not pretending it's good – it's ugly, it is ugly."

Trump made the derogatory comments during a recording of Access Hollywood in 2005.

In the three-minute recording, released on Friday (8 October) Trump, who was at the time newly married to his third wife Melania, describes a failed attempt at seducing a married woman and goes on to describe how his fame allows him to kiss women if he wants to.

" I just kiss them. I don't ask," he says. "Grab them by the p***y. When you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything."

Trump subsequently issued a video apology in which he dismissed the comments as "locker-room banter."

Now, more than 150 Republicans, including Schwarzenegger, have withdrawn their support for Trump's presidential campaign, with many calling for him to withdraw from the election and be replaced by his running mate Mike Pence.

What Trump's critics are saying

Senator John McCain: "Donald Trump's behaviour this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy."

Condoleezza Rice: "Enough! Donald Trump should not be president. He should withdraw."

US congressman for Utah, Jason Chaffetz: "I'm out. 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."

Ohio Governor John Kasich: "I will not vote for a nominee who has behaved in a manner that reflects so poorly on our country. Our country deserves better."

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said: "I have reached a decision that I can no longer endorse Donald Trump. His pattern of behaviour leaves me no choice. I urge Donald Trump to stand aside."

Carly Fiorina, former Republican presidential candidate and Hewlett-Packard chief: "Donald Trump does not understand me or my party. I ask Donald Trump to step aside and for RNC to replace him with Governor Mike Pence."

Senator John Thune of South Dakota: "Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately."

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski: "I cannot and will not support Donald Trump for president. He has forfeited the right to be our party's nominee."

Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia: "As a woman, a mother, and a grandmother to three young girls, I am deeply offended by Mr Trump's remarks, and there is no excuse for the disgusting and demeaning language. Women have worked hard to gain the dignity and respect we deserve. The appropriate next step may be for him to re-examine his candidacy."

Many others have not gone as far as to withdraw their support, but have condemned his behaviour.

Mike Pence, Trump's presidential running mate: "As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump."

Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska: "Disgusting, shameful, totally disrespectful 'locker room' garbage, privately shared between two Hollywood playboys over a decade ago."

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush: "No apology can excuse away Donald Trump's reprehensible comments degrading women,"

Former presidential nominee Mitt Romney: "Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world."

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who has endorsed his former Republican presidential rival: "Donald's comments were vulgar, egregious and impossible to justify. No one should ever talk about any woman in those terms, even in private."

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who only recently backed Trump: "These comments are disturbing and inappropriate, there is simply no excuse for them."

Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus: "No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever."

House Speaker Paul Ryan: "I am sickened by what I heard today. Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified."

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