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Giuliani: I'm Not Going to Defend Trump's 'Reprehensible' Remarks About Women

October 9, 2016

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani called Donald Trump's taped lewd comments about women "reprehensible" on Sunday but remained steadfast in his support of the embattled Republican nominee.

In a hot mic on Access Hollywood in 2005, Trump spoke about hitting on a married woman and also said he could go up and kiss women when he wanted because of his fame and even "grab them by the p---y."

Giuliani appeared on Fox News Sunday in lieu of campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, and host Chris Wallace asked the former mayor if this was because Conway was unwilling to defend Trump's comments.

"I don't think anyone is going to defend his remarks," Giuliani said. "Is Kellyanne still a very strong supporter of Donald Trump, and does she believe he'd make a better president than Hillary Clinton? Absolutely, yes."

Giuliani said it was more a question of scheduling that Conway had skipped the appearance.

"I'm not here to defend his comments," Giuliani said. "If he were here, he wouldn't be defending his comments. His comments were wrong. They were very wrong and reprehensible, and he has said that, and he has apologized for it."

The tape was graphic enough that Trump apologized in a video statement, although he added he had heard worse from his opponent's husband, former president Bill Clinton, who, like Trump, has had extramarital affairs.

Giuliani said that if the campaign got back to the issues, Trump remained the stronger candidate over Clinton, "who has her own set of flaws."

A growing list of prominent Republicans have renounced support for their party's nominee in the aftermath of the tape's release, including 2008 nominee Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.).