As a direct response to the release of horrific audio recordings of Donald Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women by using his celebrity status, Speaker of the House and reluctant Trump ally Paul Ryan condemned his party’s nominee - and booted him from an event the two had planned to attend together in Wisconsin tomorrow. The Republican Party descended into outright civil war.
Paul Ryan kicks Trump out of his Wisconsin event tomorrow, not out of the party yet pic.twitter.com/kLRs9Bn7VP
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) October 8, 2016
Paul Ryan’s statement reads:
“I am sickened by what I heard today. 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. In the meantime, he is no longer attending tomorrow’s event in Wisconsin.”
Apparently, Ryan - like much of the country - wasn’t satisfied with Trump’s grotesque non-apology in which he suggested most people weren’t offended by the remarks and tried to shift the blame to Bill Clinton using baseless smears.
Ryan isn’t the only one in open revolt against Trump (finally). Jeb Bush went viral with a strongly worded condemnation of Trump’s comments towards women.
As the grandfather of two precious girls, I find that no apology can excuse away Donald Trump's reprehensible comments degrading women.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) October 7, 2016
As did many other Republicans, including several sitting members of the House and Senate.
.@realDonaldTrump should drop out. @GOP should engage rules for emergency replacement.
— Mark Kirk (@SenatorKirk) October 8, 2016
Not since Trump clinched the nomination have so many in the GOP been so open in their disgust and outrage towards their own nominee. Even his own staff aren’t defending him.
Text from a battleground staffer, who was with colleagues when the Post story hit. "Gasps. Collective gasps. There's no way to spin this."
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) October 7, 2016
All eyes are now on Trump. The Republican candidate has proven pathologically incapable of admitting he is wrong in the past. He has so far never apologized for five years of birtherism. Never apologized for calling a Miss Universe contested Miss Piggy. Never apologized for calling Ted Cruz’s wife ugly. And actually reaffirmed his call to see the five black teens convicted of a rape in central park executed - despite the fact that DNA evidence exonerated them years ago.
If Trump responds with continued denials and blame shifting, it will be on Paul Ryan and others in the GOP to make good on their threats to abandon the candidate completely. No more half-measures. A complete and total shut down of support - even if it means seeing the Republican Party shatter.
UPDATE: The Governor of Utah officially renounces his support of Trump.
Donald Trump's statements are beyond offensive & despicable. While I cannot vote for Hillary Clinton, I will not vote for Trump. #utpol
— Gary R. Herbert (@HerbertForUtah) October 8, 2016
UPDATE 2: Associated Press reports sources close to Pence describe him as “beside himself” with fury at Trump.
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.
UPDATE 3: Rep. Jason Chaffetz also formally withdraws endorsement.
BREAKING NEWS: In live interview on @fox13, @jasoninthehouse RETRACTS endorsement for Donald Trump. #utpol pic.twitter.com/zrEJdE78D3
— Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) October 8, 2016
UPDATE 4: More on the decision to disinvite Trump to his own event tomorrow. Apparently, Gov. Scott Walker was involved.
More from @KellyO: It was "a joint decision" by Ryan and Gov. Walker to disinvite Donald Trump to the Wisconsin GOP event Saturday night.
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) October 8, 2016
UPDATE 5: Representative Mike Coffman calls for Trump to step down.
BREAKING:@RepMikeCoffman calls for @realDonaldTrump to step aside "for the good of the country & to give GOP a chance to defeat Clinton."
— Shaun Boyd (@CBS4Shaun) October 8, 2016
Featured image via Mark Wilson/Getty Images
