Washington Post releases graphic audio of Trump discussing women in 2005


Back in 2005, Donald Trump was riding aboard a bus with then-Access Hollywood host Billy Bush en route to the set of the soap opera Days of Our Lives, on which Trump was scheduled to make a cameo. And in audio obtained by The Washington Post and released Friday, Trump apparently carried on quite a vulgar conversation with Bush, discussing a failed attempt to seduce an unnamed woman before launching into an extremely lewd description of romance while famous.
"I moved on her and I failed. I'll admit it," Trump says of the unnamed woman, apparently caught on a hot microphone while aboard the bus. "I did try and f--k her. She was married. ... I moved on her like a b---h, but I couldn't get there." Trump then goes on to insult the woman's physical appearance before Bush cuts in, saying, "Sheesh, your girl's hot at s--t!" apparently referring to actress Arianne Zucker, who was waiting to greet the men when they arrived to the soap's set.
"I better use some Tic Tacs in case I start kissing her," Trump says, with the sound of mints rattling in a box audible in the background. "I'm automatically attracted to beautiful— I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. ... And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab them by the p---y." The audio was apparently recorded in September 2005; in January of that year, Trump married his third wife, Melania.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a statement Friday, Trump dismissed the conversation with Bush as "locker room banter," adding: "Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course. I apologize if anyone was offended." The Post released the video footage where the audio was captured, which shows the Access Hollywood bus rolling into the lot and Trump and Bush exiting it and being greeted by Zucker — watch the whole thing here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US