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Trump to WSJ: Zero Chance I'll Quit; Trump Apologizes as Pressure Grows on RNC to Dump Trump; Melanie Trump Responds to Trump Video; Pence Pulls Out of Paul Ryan Event in Wisconsin; Some in GOP Call for Pence to Top Republican Ticket; RNC Pauses Operations to Clarify New Message; How NBC Video of Trump Was Released; Many Still Stand By Trump; Trump Tweet: "I Will Never Drop Out". Aired 3-4p ET

Aired October 08, 2016 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:01] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everyone. Welcome to this special live edition of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Poppy Harlow, coming to you live from the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, the site of the second presidential debate airing tomorrow night here on CNN. We're glad you're with us.

We begin with break news. Donald Trump telling the "Wall Street Journal" there is zero chance he'll quit this race, despite a newly surfaced video in which he uses vulgar language and uses sexually aggressive remarks to describe trying to kiss, grope and have sex with married women, saying, quote, "When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything." You will hear him in his own words in just a moment.

But first, this stunning rebuke from Trump's own running mate, Mike Pence, just issuing a statement saying, quote, "As a husband and father, I was offended by the words and actions described by Donald Trump in the 11-year-old video released yesterday. I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them. I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people. We pray for him and 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."

Donald Trump was supposed to be in Wisconsin today for a long-awaited show of unity with the nation's highest-ranking elected Republican, House Speaker Paul Ryan. Ryan was so sickened by the tape he revoked Trump's invitation. We do expect to hear from Paul Ryan at any moment. This will be the first we've heard from him since the news broke. We will bring you his remarks live from Wisconsin.

If you need any more proof of how serious the scandal is, a GOP official tells CNN there is now growing pressure for the RNC to dump Trump as the party's candidate and focus on saving Congress.

For his part, Trump released a video just after midnight last night apologizing and immediately going on the attack against the Clintons. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've never said I'm a perfect person nor pretended to be someone that I'm not. I've said and done things I regret and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.

I've said some foolish things but there's a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed, and intimidated his victim. We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Back out live now to Trump Tower where Trump is preparing for tomorrow's debate. A campaign source this could be the death knell for Trump's presidential run.

I want you to listen to the tape that's at the center of the scandal. This is from 2005. You'll hear Donald Trump on a hot mic talking to Billy Bush then at "Access Hollywood."

We want to warn you before we play this the language is extremely offensive and graphic.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I moved on her actually. You know she was down on Palm Beach. I moved on her and I failed. I'll admit it.

BILL BUSH, CO-HOST, TODAY SHOW: Whoa.

TRUMP: I did trying and (EXPLETIVE DELETED). She was married.

BUSH: That huge news.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: No, no, Nancy. No, this was, and I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her furniture shopping. She wanted to get furniture. I said I'll show you where they have nice furniture. I moved on her like a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). But I couldn't get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden, I see she now has the bit phony tits and everything. She's totally changed her look.

BUSH: Sheesh, your girl's hot as (EXPLETIVE DELETED) in the purple.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa! Whoa! Yes, the Donald is good.

(LAUGHTER)

Oh, my man. Wait, you have to look.

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: Maybe it's a different one.

Better not be. Yeah, that's her with the gold. I better eat Tic-Tacs in case I start kissing her.

I'm automatically attracted to beautiful. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnetic.

(LAUGHTER)

When you are a star, they let you do it. You can do whatever you want. You can do anything.

BUSH: Whatever you want.

TRUMP: Grab them by the (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

(LAUGHTER)

You can do anything.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: All right. Breaking news into us at CNN. We're hearing from Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, issuing this statement. Let me read it in full, "The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."

You'll remember the comments that Trump made in that video were made just months after he married Melania Trump, his third wife.

With me now to talk about it, Mark Preston, CNN Politics executive editor; Ron Brownstein, of "The Atlantic, and CNN politics contributor; and Sunlen Surfaty.

Mark Preston, to you, his wife speaking out, saying accept his apology, I have.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: A couple of things. One is, it took at least six hours last night for him to put out his apology by video and some would say it's not an apology, he wasn't sincere. And he used it as a way to attack Hillary Clinton because of her husband's infidelities. Now it's taken him this long to have Melania Trump put out a statement and you wonder why that didn't go out last night. That might have stemmed the bleeding a little bit to show she was standing by her man and she was supportive of him and people should move beyond it.

Listen, it's obviously a big development in the campaign. But Donald Trump, I think, is irreparably harmed from what he said. We're seeing this statement after statement, minute after minute coming out from congressional Republicans, Republican leaders who are withdrawing their support.

HARLOW: Sunlen, what does it say that Melania Trump is issuing what is a short two sentences on paper. They're not walking out together. They're not doing this live to the public. They're not holding a press conference at this point in time. Donald Trump's statement was taped and it took hours and hours. SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, this is uncharted

territory for a campaign. You know, this is breaking in real time each minute. We have a drip, drip from Republican leaders who are backing away from his campaign. It's remarkable you have the wife of the presidential candidate having to release a statement saying I forgive him and I hope you do, too. It needed to happen but it took long time.

HARLOW: It took a long time.

And, Ron Brownstein, what is remarkable in terms of Donald Trump's statement/apology, he spoke about his own journey and how he has grown. He did not speak once about the people that he offended with those vulgar sexually aggressive remarks. That's an apology?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No, it wasn't an apology. I thought when he was trying to say I'm a better person and I've learned from the American people that was probably the most effective sentence of the whole thing. But overall, it was not an apology. The principle obstacle Donald Trump has faced in this race are the doubts about his personal qualifications to be president. Heading into the first debate, 60 percent of the country said they did not consider him qualified. Over 60 percent said they didn't think he had the temperament. And 60 percent said they considered him biased against women and minorities. Everything that's happened starting with that debate has reconfirmed that initial impression. And that is why he's stuck in the low 40s, and after this, they begin to look like an --

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: But every one of those things, including speaking about Mexicans as rapists, including saying I could stand in the middle of fifth avenue and shoot somebody and you would be loyal, that's all been treated by the public, by his campaign so differently than this. This is so different.

And, Mark Preston, we know from the reporting in "The Times" this morning, one of his top advisors told him before you tap, this apology, do not insert the Clintons into this apology. He did it anyway.

PRESTON: We also know during the campaign as well that there have been oftentimes where his advisors have gone to him and told him not to do things and he's gone forward anyway. It is a situation where news quickly, so much happening sometimes we can lose what's at stake right now. What's at stake was Donald Trump said some very crude words and offensive language. We wouldn't want our children to hear it. Donald Trump said it was OK to sexually assault women and he can get away with it. (CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Because of his celebrity status.

PRESTON: Correct.

HARLOW: Because of his position of power.

Doesn't it this go, Sunlen to so many broader issues? This is not just about what one man thinks. This is what women are faced with daily.

SERFATY: It's not just the words but also the actions he's pushing. These are serious and illegal things he's talking about. To the point you're talking to Mark about, too, in each of those non-apology statements and there were two, first, the taped statement and then the video statement, and each of those non-apologies you had him mentioning Bill Clinton, mentioning Bill Clinton indiscretions trying to correlate this.

HARLOW: Bill Clinton is not on the ballot.

SERFATY: That's a big hit. That that's what he might bring tomorrow night. We'll see if he speaks on it, see if he talks to his supporters as he said he wants to do. Will he bring that --

(CROSSTALK)

BROWNSTEIN: In addition to the issue, which Mark correctly raises is about more than words, deeds, this is horizontal narrative about Donald Trump. He's showing a complete lack of empathy to what his actions mean to anyone else than himself. That's the theme on not paying taxes, feeling no civil responsibility, a foundation that's about advancing his interests not charitable interests, investors and small businesses that get stiffed along the way. The portrait he faces is someone who is only in it on every front, every action is about what's in it for me.

[15:10:04] HARLOW: Coming up we'll talk about Mike Pence, his running mate, who many Republicans say should be on the top of the ticket, what would that mean.

But before we do that, just back to the breaking news, Melania Trump's statement, the sentences, the women in Trump' life, Melania and then Ivanka Trump, who has been seen as a huge asset for him in terms of trying to get female voters on board.

Mark Preston, what can Melania Trump do? What can Ivanka Trump do? Will we hear from her?

PRESTON: This is the part of the story I think the media in many ways should stay away from. What goes on in their private lives and whether Melania is willing to accept him back for what he said, let them deal with that. Let his daughter deal with that. Let his children deal with that. That's not for us to deal with. What's for us to deal with is to take a step back, look at what he

said for the totality. Who is he in it for? Is he in it for himself? Is he in it for the nation? He's not in it for the Republican Party. We've known that from day one. He's bucked them and they've had to swallow a hard pill. Right now, it's come home to roost for them.

HARLOW: absolutely.

Stay with me.

Again the Trump, Donald Trump's wife, Melania Trump, coming out with that statement saying she has accepted his apology. She hopes the American people will as well. Much more on our breaking news.

Also, some Republicans calling for Pence to be at the top of the ticket. We're 31 days out from the election. Is that even possible? If so, what could that mean for all the people who have already voted? That discussion and what sources inside the party are saying about it, next.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:14:55] HARLOW: All right. We're back with our breaking news, Donald Trump telling the "Wall Street Journal" that there is zero chance that he will quit the race despite a newly surfaced video in which he uses vulgar language and makes sexually aggressive remarks. This morning, Trump tweeting, "It certainly has been an interesting 24 hours." That's all we've heard from Donald Trump since he took the air waves after midnight last night in a taped statement, part apology, part attack on the Clintons.

In Elkhorn, Wisconsin, today is where Trump was supposed to be. He was supposed to appear on stage with House Speaker Paul Ryan in a show of force and unity. That didn't happen. Then Mike Pence was supposed to be there in his place, alongside Ryan, and we just learned he's no longer attending.

Jason Carroll is with me and joins me now from New York -- from Elkhorn, Wisconsin I should say.

Jason, Pence, about two hours ago, saying he won't be there either. What are we hearing as we await Paul Ryan?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A couple of things, Poppy. When Paul Ryan takes the stage, not sure what kind of reception he's going to receive here. I've heard from people in the audience shouting out, "We want Trump. We want Trump." One man shouting, "You disinvited Donald Trump." That was met by a number of people who were applauding in support of that man.

At one point, Poppy, a speaker got up and talked about his daughter, talked about his wife and said that he felt as though the things that Donald Trump had said were offensive and were wrong. And then, once again, you heard shouts from the people in the audience, Trump supporters, who said whatever he's done, Hillary Clinton, these people shouted, is worse.

Donald Trump, for his part, as you've indicated, saying that he has no intention of stepping down, telling "The Washington Post," quote, "I'm not quitting," quote, "I have tremendous support." He certainly does have support with some of those here in the crowd."

But a number of GOP leaders have stepped forward condemning his remarks. One being Paul Ryan, who came out with a statement yesterday, saying, quote, "I am sickened by what I heard today. Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified."

I did speak with a Ryan operative. He told me once he takes the stage, don't expect fireworks, expect him to go up here and rally the base, you know, encourage people to vote, especially in some of the down-ballot races. There's been concerns here in the state of Wisconsin that Trump could be a drag on some of those races. Expect Ryan to do what he can when he takes the stage here.

I have also spoken with a number of women here, Poppy, as you can imagine who have talked about the incident. All of them tell me they're still standing behind Donald Trump -- Poppy?

HARLOW: It's very interesting and really important color, it's all about the voters and what they think and how they cast their ballot, despite what pundits across the board say or other politicians.

Jason, you said something that struck me, that don't expect any fireworks from Paul Ryan when he takes the stage. Are we to believe -- are you being led to believe that Paul Ryan is literally not going to say anything about this?

CARROLL: You know, when I asked the person that I spoke to within his camp about that, you know, she sort of dodged the question. So I can't really speak to what he is going to say with regards to that. I would expect that he would say something about it. How can come here a day after something like this has been revealed and not say something? The only thing that I can tell you is this person inside the going to do is try to rally the base, but she said, quote, "Don't expect any fireworks" -- Poppy?

HARLOW: They're looking down-ballot now, certainly no question about that.

Jason Carroll in Elkhorn, awaiting Paul Ryan. We'll bring him to you live as soon as starts.

Jason, thank you very much for the reporting.

Still to come, Team Trump huddling at Trump Tower in New York amid calls for the presidential candidate to drop out 31 days before Election Day. A live report from outside of Trump Tower where a huge crowd has gathered, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:22:56] HARLOW: Right now, Donald Trump is inside of Trump Tower in the middle of New York City. Let's take you there live. You're looking at live pictures from outside of the building where Trump was on the phone with reporters this morning saying there is zero chance that he will quit this race. The defiance coming as republicans are calling for him to get out of the race and put in his running mate, Mike Pence, at the top of the ticket instead.

Senator Mike Lee, of Utah, is one of them. He posted this on his Facebook page.

All right. We don't have that. I'm so sorry.

M.J. Lee is live with me. She's outside of Trump Tower.

M.J., someone else at Trump Tower in the midst of all this is Melania Trump, Donald Trump's wife. She just issued a statement. You're surrounded by large group of people who have formed outside. What did Melania say?

M.J. LEE, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: That's right, Poppy. Melania Trump breaking her silence a few moments ago. She released the statement. She wrote, "The words my husband used are unacceptable to me. This does not represent the man I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology as I have and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."

So, Poppy, important to note that Melania says in the statement she has forgiven her husband and she is asking the rest of the country to do the same.

It's a remarkable couple of hours here where essentially Donald Trump's running mate as well as his wife have openly condemned the video from yesterday. There has not been any Donald Trump sightings today, we have seen his advisors go into Trump Tower. We know they're hunkered down right now meeting and plotting a path forward, trying to figure out how to contain the fallout from the video. We saw Rudy Giuliani walk in. Kellyanne Conway went in. We saw one of Don Trump Jr, one of Donald Trump's sons' go into Trump Tower together. So this has been a family affair. And all of the Donald Trump campaign's resources right now are going into really dealing with this video.

I can also tell you, I'm sure you and see a little bit of this behind me. There are dozens of Trump supporters gathered here to show their support for Donald Trump. There are signs that read "Women for Trump," "Hispanics for Trump." And some of the folks were actually chanting the words "The media is corrupt." When you're inside Trump Tower, I can tell you some of the supporters of Donald Trump are readily approaching reporters and saying the media shouldn't be reporting on what came out yesterday, that they should really be focused on the corruption of Hillary Clinton. So there are some tensions running high right now. Anything else we get from inside we'll bring that to you.

[15:25:59] HARLOW: That's so important, M.J., to hear what the voters are saying next to you, what the pundits are saying and other Republican lawmakers are saying. Is the sense you're getting from people who are pointing their finger at the media they believe the media was complicit in this? That is an assertion Michelle Bachmann made earlier today on CNN.

LEE: Yeah, absolutely. I think it's very fair to say that some supporters who have come out here are angry at the media. There is definitely a sense that this whole controversy has been fueled and fed by media. And a lot of Trump supporters at here believe this is not the kind of issue we should be talking about. They feel like the media has not been as critical of Hillary Clinton as we have of Donald Trump. And they want to make their voices heard.

I also just want to note, Poppy, how incredible it is that we are just one day away, actually, from the second presidential debate. And all of today, all indications are that Donald Trump is hunkered down with his advisors and is not doing debate prep. That could be detrimental to him as well -- Poppy?

HARLOW: M.J. Lee reporting live from New York. M.J., thank you so much.

We're going to take a quick. Coming up next, our senior media correspondent, Brian Stelter, will join me with the details of the story behind the story. How did the tape from 11 years ago, sitting on a shelf, collecting dust at NBC, come to light and get published just days before the second presidential debate? Brian Stelter with me next.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:30:44] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. The vulgar tape that has been released in the last 24 hours has sent tremors through the presidential election. It sat forgotten for more than a decade. Donald Trump's hot mic recording with "Access Hollywood" with Billy Bush was collecting dust on an NBC shelf until a few days ago when a producer remembered it and went digging.

CNN senior media correspondent, host of "Reliable Sources," Brian Stelter, has all the details. Also with me is CNN Politics executive editor, Mark Preston, with breaking news, who I'm going to begin with.

Thank you for being here.

Mark, when it comes to funding and the presidential election on the Republican side, a big change?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: A big change. Right now, so I've been told by a top Republican National Committee official, that the committee put a temporary pause on its mail operations that are part of the committee's operation in terms of messaging to assess the current situation and decide if they need to change their message on mailings and other get-out-the-vote operations. What this means --

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Let's read through the lines -- that means? PRESTON: It means that -- some people interpret that they're

withdrawing support from Trump. That's absolutely not what they're saying. What they're saying right now is we need to stop and decide where we are right now and what is our message going to be tomorrow. What is our --

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Does it mean do we focus down-ballot only?

STELTER: No. Even more so, what is our message to save Donald Trump in many ways? The message today that they were getting out over the past couple weeks is going to be different than the message tomorrow. We know there's a halt in their operations when it comes to mailings, when it comes to any other kind of get-out-the-vote operations to try to assess where they are and how they can try to make ground up with Donald Trump.

HARLOW: Not a pause anyone can really bear 31 days out from an election.

Mark Preston with the breaking news. Thank you very much.

Back to Brian Stelter and the story behind the story of the tape.

Look, this was an NBC producer who remembered, all of a sudden, this tape. I think the question becomes, what did NBC know and when did they know it? They, as a network, were working on their own story when David Farenthold at "The Washington Post" broke it first.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: That is right. It seems "The Washington Post" obtained the video from a leaker inside NBC. Does that mean there are people inside NBC that were concerned this video was not going to be aired, that it would be covered up, that it would be push under the rug? That's unclear. The network is not commenting on how this came about. It was on Monday, five days ago, this tape was found in the archives of "Access Hollywood." That leads you to wonder, what other tapes are there? What other clips would there be?

HARLOW: Do we know anything about it? This is a man who has been on television a lot over decades. "The Apprentice," think about the footage that was left on the cutting room floor from "The Apprentice." Do you have any reporting on whether there are other tapes that are equivalent to what we heard here?

STELTER: Clinton campaign aides would love to see the old video from the apprentice. My sense from NBC is "Access Hollywood" does not have other damaging video clips. We don't know what's in "The Apprentice" archives. We don't know what's been saved and what wasn't saved from 10, 15 years ago. There are Democratic operative trying to find out. Mark Burnett, the man behind "The Apprentice," has not commented on any of this.

What is so striking, Poppy, is we've known these stories for years. There's been ex-employees of Trump who have been on the record for years talking about way he described women, the vulgar language he uses with women. The audio makes all the difference in the world.

[15:34:23] HARLOW: Brian, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Mark Preston, thank you.

Brian will have more on this coming up tomorrow morning on his show "Reliable Sources," live from Washington University, 11:00 a.m. eastern tomorrow morning.

Quick break. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: All right. I'm Poppy Harlow, live from St. Louis, the site of the second presidential debate tomorrow night.

We are back with breaking news. Sources telling us at CNN that Donald Trump is still deciding with his team whether or not he will make a speech tonight regarding the fallout from the videotape of him in 2005 making those explicit comments towards women.

This, as we have learned his running mate, Mike Pence, after issuing that statement saying he cannot defend Trump's comments. Mike Pence is headed tonight to Providence, Rhode Island, where he'll be attending a private fundraiser.

This scandal has led a growing list of Republicans to say they cannot stand by and support Donald Trump. But there is another group that is standing by Donald Trump through the latest fire storm.

Earlier, CNN spoke with former Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann. She told our Christi Paul there is only one person to blame for this outrage. She said it is not Donald Trump. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE BACHMANN, (R), FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN: Nothing happens by accident from the Clinton campaign. This was absolutely a planned premeditated event to drive the conversation. Because Hillary Clinton's information came out --

(CROSSTALK)

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: With all due respect, Representative --

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: These are his own words that are coming out. They didn't put these words in his mouth. I'm wondering from a standpoint of you being a mother, how do you talk to your kids about this?

BACHMANN: I was told by the producers that I would be able to talk. This sounds like Tim Kaine interrupting Mike Pence.

Because what we learned this week is that Hillary Clinton -- Bernie Sanders was right. Hillary told her wall street billionaire donors that she's going to continue unending supply of cheap labor and the bad trade deals/

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: That was Michelle Bachmann speaking on CNN earlier today.

Let's talk with another woman who is standing by Donald Trump's side, even though many people in his own party are furious and some are abandoning him.

With me is Stacy Washington. She host of a conservative talk radio show called "Stacy on the Right." Also here with us is CNN political commentator, Patti Solis Doyle. She ran Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2008.

Thank you for being here.

Let me start with you, Stacy.

You're standing by Donald Trump. Wash his apology last night sufficient?

[15:40:40] STACY WASHINGTON, RADIO HOST, STACY ON THE RIGHT & DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: Of course, it was. We know talking about something that happened 11 years ago. So these comments are not fresh. If they were from last week or last year I'd be very concerned. They're 11 years old.

HARLOW: Why does that matter? He was 59 years old when he made these comments? What does it matter if it was yesterday or a decade ago?

WASHINGTON: Well, because it was 11 years ago. Have you changed in 11 years? I'm not the same --

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: I'm not running for president.

WASHINGTON: Of course not. And I didn't say the comments were OK. I condemn them. I think they were horrible. But they were 11 years ago. He's apologized. If we can accept Hillary Clinton's apology for her e-mails and for other things that she's done, Benghazi, then we can certainly accept this.

HARLOW: Do you think there's an equivalency.

WASHINGTON: I think the equivalency is in the level of outrage, or lack of level of outrage when we're looking at things Hillary Clinton did. There are s| many things to be outraged about. When I weigh the scales, we're looking at four years. Hillary Clinton wants open borders. She doesn't want to enforce our immigration policy as it stands. She wants to take my guns.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: I want to get back to the comments at hand. It's not just that they're comments that are explicit or lewd or comments I wouldn't want my daughter or anyone's children to hear. These are aggressive comments about grabbing women, because you can, because you're powerful.

WASHINGTON: It sounds a lot like hip-hop music from today.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Hip-hop artists aren't running for president.

WASHINGTON: Of course, they aren't. But it's the culture we're in. These comments are a reflection of what we are as Americans. If we're not going to be outraged by the hip-hop music, the comments people make directly to women -- Poppy, hit my Twitter feed right now. I have people calling me a coon, calling me --

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: No one should say those things.

WASHINGTON: Of course not.

HARLOW: No one should say those things.

WASHINGTON: But this is the culture as it stands.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Let me get Patti in here, I want people to look. We'll pull up on your screen all of the -- control room talk to me, all of the Republicans who are now not standing by Donald Trump.

Patti, what does he say on stage tomorrow night?

PATTI SOLIS DOYLE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: First of all, I want to respond to Stacy. Let's be clear, what he was doing on the video was condoning sexual assault. It's criminal, illegal activity.

WASHINGTON: Of course.

SOLIS DOYLE: He was condoning that choice and bragging about it.

WASHINGTON: But did he do sexual assault like Bill Clinton?

SOLIS DOYLE: He claims he did. He claims he did.

WASHINGTON: You worked for Hillary Clinton --

(CROSSTALK)

SOLIS DOYLE: Second of all, the apology --

(CROSSTALK)

SOLIS DOYLE: The apology that Donald Trump gave both in the written statement and in the video was not remorseful. It was not contrite. In fact, he equated the behavior to locker room banter. That's like saying, you know, boys will be boys. It's outrageous. It's glib. And it is not becoming of a presidential candidate.

HARLOW: It's an important point you bring up.

Stacy, a number of men of all ages have said to me in the last two hours, that's not locker room banter. That's never equivalent to what I've heard. When we pull up these Republicans -- again, I'm not talking about Democrats that are against Donald Trump. I'm talking about his fellow Republicans, some of them who have endorsed him, who are now walking away from him.

His apology didn't once mention the women he insulted. His apology was focused on his own journey and how he has changed, and then it went on the attack against his opponent. Is that sufficient for the American people?

WASHINGTON: I think the polls and the votes will show that whether it was sufficient or not. I'm really, really interested in talking about policy. I'm hoping tomorrow night is not all about these comments from 11 years ago, but what both of these candidates want to do for the future. We're talking about our children's future, taxes, the border, we're talking about the higher level of crime because of the Ferguson effective. When I look at the way our lives have been impacted the last seven and half years by Barack Obama, I'm desperate for change. If he has a potty mouth, that's fine.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: You're calling this potty mouth? This is about assaulting women.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Stacy, is this not about assaulting women? Is this not about using your power --

WASHINGTON: Sure.

HARLOW: -- and your name and your celebrity to grab women's genitals?

WASHINGTON: It's just terrible isn't it? It sounds like the hip-hop music I hear blaring everywhere.

HARLOW: They're not running for president. They have a higher standard.

(CROSSTALK)

[15:45:10] SOLIS DOYLE: How do we tell our sons -- I have a teenage son. How do we tells our sons when we say that being sexist, being misogynistic is absolutely unacceptable behavior, and then he watches television and sees our presidential nominee from a major party for the presidency, what do we tell our sons? What do we say when he says, well, you know, one of two people who will be the next president of the United States, what do we say? What do we say to them?

WASHINGTON: It's wrong behavior. I just said that. I've said it twice on CNN today. I'll say it one more time for you. It's wrong behavior. It's incorrect for him to speak that way. That's not the issue.

HARLOW: I'd like you to look at this, as we talking. This is a brand-new tweet from Donald Trump. Let me read it: "The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly. I will never drop out of the race. I will never let my supporters down. #MAGA."

Stacy, your thoughts? Do you agree with him this is the establishment media's fault?

WASHINGTON: I think the focus that we're talking about this, this is story that broke yesterday -- it's appropriate to cover it? It's appropriate to have discussions about it, to ask questions, to have supporters on? I think that's right. But tomorrow night, at that debate, I want to hear about policy. I think the American people want to hear about policy. Whether it's the establishment, whoever it is, and the story --

(CROSSTALK)

SOLIS DOYLE: Donald Trump every day prevents that from happening --

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Patti, you know the mind of Hillary Clinton better than almost anyone. You ran her campaign in 2008. She has not said a word other than putting out a tweet saying this is appalling. How will she address this tomorrow night at the debate? What will she do?

SOLIS DOYLE: If I know her, the way I think I know her, I think she's going to come out really strong and condemn these words by Donald Trump. You know, she has been standing up for women's rights for all of her adult life. She's been traveling globally, internationally, domestically, fighting a advocating for women to be equal, socially, economically and politically. She's going to go out there and I believe she is going to condemn him the way no one has of yet.

HARLOW: We'll watch. We'll have you both back with me.

I have to get a break in here.

Stacy Washington, Patti Solis Doyle, thank you very much.

Coming up, Hillary Clinton will face off tomorrow night against Donald Trump in the second presidential debate. It's hosted, co-moderated by Anderson Cooper. It's at 9:00 p.m. eastern here on CNN.

Quick break. We're back in a moment.

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[15:51:34] HARLOW: All right. Welcome back to our breaking news, here live from Washington University in St. Louis.

Donald Trump just tweeting. This is the second time we have heard from him since a tape recorded apology last night. He just tweeted moments ago, "The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly. I will never let my supporters down, #MAGA," which is make America great again.

We got a tweet from Hillary Clinton's campaign. Let me read this to you here: "Hillary Clinton's campaign decided Saturday, today, that the Democratic nominee will not respond to Donald Trump's casual comments about sexual assaults before tomorrow's debate."

So we're not going to hear from Hillary Clinton in response until the debate tomorrow night. This goes on to say that Clinton's top aides made this decision after watching dozens of Republicans rescind their endorsement and feel there is no rush to get something out today. The campaign feels it is official if it is her first response that comes during the debate tomorrow night that is expected to draw more than 80 million people. The idea is to maximize the number of people that hear Hillary Clinton's response from her for the first time to Donald Trump and this 2005 tape. Clinton is currently, we are told from the company, hunkered down with top aides at her fourth day of debate preparations. Again, the headline out of that, no one will hear from Hillary Clinton responding to Donald Trump until you watch it live tomorrow night on the debate, on CNN, hosted by our own Anderson Cooper.

With me now senior media correspondent, host of "Reliable Sources," Brian Stelter; and also with us, Lanhee Chen, a CNN contributor and formerly working with Mitt Romney who came out today and condemned all of this.

Let's talk first about the tweet, and we'll get Clinton's response. Let pull up the tweet again. He says this is the establishment media. It's your fault you don't want me in this race.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: It's been almost 24 hours since this "Washington Post" story came out. I was honestly waiting this tweet from Donald Trump. He has waged an anti-media campaign since he entered the race. He has exploited the media while running an anti-media campaign. I suspect he would feel there was an overreaction by the media to this story in "The Washington Post" and to all the coverage since.

I was on the phone with a senior executive and a competing television network who said I did not think this story would become as big as it has.

HARLOW: Really?

STELTER: I think what's happening here this is a snowball, an avalanche of sorts as more and more Republicans come out against Trump.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Trump is adding to it with these tweets. He just tweeted, "An interesting 24 hours it's been." after videotape came -- let's just remind our viewers, this is videotape of him not just making lewd comments --

STELTER: That's right, not just rude comments.

HARLOW: This is video making predatory comments.

(CROSSTALK)

STELTER: You got a student out here. The sign says, "Groping women is not rude. It's sexual assault."

We've got to keep that word "assault" in mind. It's the gravity of the story.

HARLOW: So Donald Trump says it's the media's fault. He says in that tweet, Lanhee Chen, it is the establishment's fault. Let's look at all of the, quote/unquote, "establishment" he is talking about who have pulled away and will not support Donald Trump. I'm not talking about Democrats. I'm talking about Republican members of Congress, Republican Senators, who are saying I can no longer stand by the man.

LANHEE CHEN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah. One is an aberration, two is a trend. This is snowball effect. The reason why, frankly, politics.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: You have people like Joanie Ernst up there, somebody floated as a possible running mate for Trump. She issued a statement a few hours ago saying these comments are lewd, I cannot stand by this.

[15:55:28] CHEN: There are two issues. One is for people who are running in this cycle, it's a recognition that Trump is a lead weight right now for the Republican Party. The second issue is a longer-term question, what does the Republican party stand for? What kind of a party are we going to be? That has to be answered beginning today. This is a time of choosing for Republicans. These Republican have made the choice that I believe is the right choice.

STELTER: Let me add one caveat. There is a media elite reaction, a Republican Party elite reaction. What we don't know is how voters are reacting to this.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: We don't but I think it's such an important point. It's one thing for the pundits to say they think and the media, but Jason Carroll was with a bunch of voters as was M.J. Lee, and Jason was in Wisconsin and M.J. was in New York, and they're hearing a lot of support for Trump from the voters.

STELTER: We need to keep that in mind. I was worried last night sitting on the set with Don Lemon thinking is there over reaction by the media? I don't think there has been. To be honest, this video was repulsive. I'm glad the television networks played it in full, and played the vulgar words and made sure people we heard it. But what we don't know for sure is how voters who have backed this man for over a year and believe he is the only answer to their problems, how they're reacting.

HARLOW: Lanhee Chen -- by the way, we are still waiting to hear from Paul Ryan at this Elkhorn, Wisconsin, event. This was a huge deal he disinvited Trump, to this event that was supposed to be a show of unity for the party. Scott Walker is speaking there live. Mike Pence won't even go now, Lanhee.

CHEN: Yeah, well, Paul Ryan is the intellectual leader of the Republican Party. In some ways, he represents the future of the party, people like him and Marco Rubio do. It's important to watch what he does. And to not appear with Trump is one thing. I think the question is, is it going to be sustainable for Paul Ryan and others to say, we believe what he said was repulsive, but we still want him to be president.

HARLOW: Right.

CHEN: It's a difficult position to be in.

STELTER: He said he will never let the voters down. The truth is, we're 31 days from this election.

CHEN: He already has.

STELTER: He already has. We're 31 days from the election. Something will happen. Trump will win or lose in 31 days. This does end at some point. Even though he's talked about election rigging and the possibility of a stolen election, this does end. This insane election will end soon. And Trump has to be thinking about that as well. It's not just Mike Pence that's thinking of 2020.

HARLOW: Time to get a break. Stay with me. Let me get a break in.

We have much more of our breaking news. We are waiting for Paul Ryan. Will he pull his endorsement from Trump? We will bring you that live.

Much more live here from Wash. U. in St. Louis ahead of the debate. We'll be right back.

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