In the wake of the release of a 2005 video which captured Republican nominee Donald Trump openly bragging about how his celebrity status enables him to kiss and grope women as he pleased, Trump's vice presidential nominee Mike Pence has made it clear he is not pleased.
Pence cancelled an appearance at a gathering of party leadership in Wisconsin, NBC News reported, the same event which Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had earlier made it clear Trump was no longer invited to attend. Pence also released a statement condemning Trump's remarks, writing, "As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the eleven-year-old video released yesterday."
PENCE: "As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump...
"I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them," Pence continued. "I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people. We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night."
A source close to Trump camp told me Pence and his team are "absolutely apoplectic," "melting down" and "inconsolable.
Let's not fall for this whole Pence is a victim messaging coming from the Pence team. We all knew who Trump was. Pence did when he signed up https://t.co/ag8FegomjR
How could Pence have ever known something like this would happen https://t.co/pxZug9rXOk
For a Christian conservative, Mike Pence seems remarkably unaware of how deals with the devil work.
Some prominent Republicans have already began calling for either Pence to leave the Republican presidential ticket, or for Trump to step aside and let Pence run the remainder of the campaign.
Alaska GOP Sen Dan Sullivan calls for Trump to step aside for Pence
ex-GOP Rep Vin Weber, Priebus/Gingrich ally: "Mike Pence should resign from the ticket
Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin called for Republican leaders to abandon their own candidate and support his campaign on Saturday morning.
Calls for Pence, Trump's number one enabler, to replace the nominee may be a feel good exit for GOP leaders, but it isn't actually feasible.
If GOP leaders are truly committed to the founding principles of our great nation, they'll join our new conservative movement. #McMullinFinn
