A 2005 videotape recording showing United States Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump making lewd comments about women surfaced on Friday, The Washington Post reported. The tape shows Trump talking to NBC's 'Today Show' co-host, Billy Bush, about kissing, groping and attempting to have sex with women. Trump said, “when you’re a star, they let you do it.”

"I did try and fuck her. She was married. I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn't get there," Trump was shown telling Bush about a failed attempt to seduce a married woman, who was the host of NBC's 'Access Hollywood' in 2005.

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Trump drew heavy criticism, even from his fellow Republican leaders, prompting him to issue a statement saying, “I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.” The Republican candidate defended his remarks as "locker room banter" and "foolish words" that were very different from the "words and actions of Bill Clinton". Referring to Bill Clinton's extra-marital affair during his tenure as president, Trump accused the former US president of abusing women. He also accused Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton of "bullying and intimidating Bill's victims".

Trump said, “Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am.” Responding to demands asking him to withdraw his candidacy, Trump said, “We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.”

Hillary Clinton has responded to the video, calling it "horrific", Reuters reported. The Democratic candidate's campaign also suffered a blow on Friday when Wikileaks published what appeared to be excerpts of her paid speeches to corporations.

The exposés come right before the presidential debate on Sunday. Studies, prior to the posting of the video, indicated that the Republican candidate was already unpopular with women voters in the run-up to the November 8 elections. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said he was "sickened" by Trump's statements. Ryan said his invitation to the Republican candidate to attend a campaign event in Wisconsin with him on Saturday has been withdrawn.