Full List: Republicans Abandon Trump After Vulgar Remarks
After a 2005 video resurfaced showing Donald Trump make vulgar remarks about women, leaders within the GOP began criticizing the GOP nominee and some even withdraw their support.
Here are some of their comments and statements on the controversy:
Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk: “Donald Trump should drop out. GOP should engage rules for emergency replacement.”
Former New York governor and GOP presidential candidate George E. Pataki: “I’m horrified by Trump tape news. Trump campaign is a poisonous mix of bigotry & ignorance. Enough! He needs to step down.”
National political director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and former director of the Division of Political Education at the Republican National Committee Rob Engstrom: “Trump should step down immediately tonight, yielding to Governor Pence as the GOP Nominee.”
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz: “I’m out.”
Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert: “Donald Trump’s statements are beyond offensive & despicable. While I cannot vote for Hillary Clinton, I will not vote for Trump. #utpol.”
Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock: “Donald Trump should step aside and allow our party to replace him..I cannot in good conscience vote for Trump.”
Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse: “Character matters. Donald Trump is obviously not going to win. But he can still make an honorable move: Step aside and let Mike Pence try.”
Former Utah Gov. John Huntsman: “In a campaign cycle that has been nothing but a race to the bottom — at such a critical moment for our nation — and with so many who have tried to be respectful of a record primary vote, the time has come for Governor Pence to lead the ticket.”
Utah Sen. Mike Lee: “Donald Trump is a distraction. Time for him to step aside so we can focus on winning ideas that will carry Republicans to a victory in November.”
Alabama Rep. Martha Roby: “Donald Trump’s behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president, and I won’t vote for him. As disappointed as I’ve been with his antics throughout this campaign, I thought supporting the nominee was the best thing for our country and our party. Now, it is abundantly clear that the best thing for our country and our party is for Trump to step aside and allow a responsible, respectable Republican to lead the ticket. Hillary Clinton must not be president, but, with Trump leading the ticket, she will be.”
Former GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina: “Donald Trump does not represent me or my party. I understand the responsibility of Republicans to support their nominee. Our nominee has weighty responsibilities as well. Donald Trump has manifestly failed in these responsibilities… Today I ask Donald Trump to step aside and for the RNC to replace him with Gov. Mike Pence.”
New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte: “I wanted to be able to support my party’s nominee, chosen by the people because I feel strongly that we need a change in direction for our country. However, I’m a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women. I will not be voting for Donald Trump or [Democrat] Hillary Clinton and instead will be writing in [GOP vice presidential nominee] Governor Mike Pence for president on Election Day.”
Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt: “For the benefit of the country, the party and his family, and for his own good, Donald Trump should withdraw. More and worse [opposition research] coming.”
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo: “I have reached the decision that I can no longer endorse Donald Trump. This is not a decision that I have reached lightly, but his pattern of behavior has left me no choice. His repeated actions and comments toward women have been disrespectful, profane and demeaning. … Make no mistake — we need conservative leadership in the White House. I urge Donald Trump to step aside and allow the Republican party to put forward a conservative candidate like Mike Pence who can defeat Hillary Clinton.”
West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito: “As a woman, a mother and a grandmother to three young girls, I am deeply offended by Mr. Trump’s remarks and there is no excuse for the disgusting and demeaning language. Women have worked hard to gain the dignity and respect we deserve. The appropriate next step may be for him to reexaming his candidacy.”
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake: “He needs to withdraw from the race.”
Nevada Rep. Joe Heck: “I believe any candidate for President of the United States should campaign with common ethical and moral values and decency. I accept that none of us are perfect. However, I can no longer look past this pattern of behavior and inappropriate comments from Donald Trump. Therefore, I cannot, in good conscience, continue to support him nor can I vote for Hillary Clinton.”
South Dakota Sen. John Thune: “Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately.”
South Dakota Sen. Dennis Daugaard: “Enough is enough. Donald Trump should withdraw in favor of Governor Mike Pence. This election is too important.”
Utah Rep. Mia Love: “His behavior and bravado have reached a new low. I cannot vote for him.”
2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney: “I was offended and dismayed by what was said and done by Mr. Trump. I think it’s degrading to our women, to our daughters, our granddaughters, to future generations.”
Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: “For the first time since I became a citizen in 1983, I will not vote for the Republican candidate for president.”
Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan: “We need national leaders who can lead by example [on combating sexual assault and domestic violence.] The reprehensible revelations about Donald Trump have shown that he can’t. Therefore, I am withdrawing my support for his candidacy.”
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: “Although I’d hoped he could have risen to the occasion, it’s clear is unwilling or unable to demonstrate even the most basic level of discipline, character and judgement necessary to lead our great nation. He is unsound, uninformed, unhinged and unfit to be president of the United States and I am withdrawing my support for him.”
Former presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich: “It’s clear that he hasn’t changed and has no interest in doing so. As a result, Donald Trump is a man I cannot and should not support… I will not vote for a nominee who has behaved in a manner that reflects so poorly on our country. Our country deserves better.”
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski: “I cannot and will not support Donald Trump for president. He has forfeited the right to be our party’s nominee.”
Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner: “If Donald Trump wishes to defeat Hillary Clinton, he should do the only thing that will allow us to do so – step aside.”
Arizona Sen. John McCain: “I have wanted to support the candidate our party nominated. He was not my choice, but as a past nominee, I thought it important I respect the fact that Donald Trump won a majority of the delegates by the rules our party set. I thought I owed his supporters that deference. But Donald Trump’s behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy. … [My wife] Cindy and I will not vote for Donald Trump. I have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate and we will not vote for Hillary Clinton. We will write in the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president.”
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham: “I have never been comfortable with Donald Trump as our Republican nominee. … Name one sports team, university, publicly-held company, etc. that would accept a person like this as their standard bearer?”
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley: “I certainly won’t vote for Hillary Clinton, but I cannot and will not vote for Donald Trump.”
Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman: “For the good of the country, and to give the Republicans a chance of defeating Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump should step aside.”
Former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice: “Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw. As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth.”
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez: “What Trump brags about is appalling and completely unacceptable. No woman should ever be treated the way he claims he treated women. Unfortunately, there is a pattern of disturbing conduct and offensive rhetoric that raises serious questions about his fitness to be President. That’s why I have withheld my support from the very beginning, and will not support him now.”
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman: “As I said yesterday, Donald Trump’s comments were offensive and wrong. I had hoped to support the candidate my party nominated in the primary process. I thought it was appropriate to respect the millions of voters across the country who chose Donald Trump as the Republican Party nominee. While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him. I continue to believe our country cannot afford a Hillary Clinton presidency. I will be voting for Mike Pence for President.”
