Melania Trump has spoken out against her husband's vulgar remarks made about casually groping and kissing women without their consent, as the campaign scrambles to address the backlash the newly surfaced video has caused.

"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me," she said. "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."

Donald Trump apologises for 'grab them by the p****' remarks, says Bill Clinton has done 'far worse'

Ms Trump's statement comes amid massive Republican fallout in the 24 hours since the Washington Post first released the video.

Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Show all 12 1 /12 Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger Schwarzenegger said he will not vote for Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Mr McConnell condemned the remarks, but has not unendorsed him Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks House Speaker Paul Ryan Mr Ryan disinvited Mr Trump from a Wisconsin campaign event following the remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Sec of State Condoleezza Rice Ms Rice called for Trump to withdraw his candidacy Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Nebraska Sen Deb Fischer Ms Fischer called on Trump to step aside and give nomination to Mike Pence Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Texas Sen Ted Cruz Mr Cruz denounced the remarks, but still endorses Trump Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former Republican candidate Carly Fiorina Ms Fiorina wants Mike Pence to take the nomination Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt Hewitt called for Trump to step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Utah Representative Mia Love Ms Love said she cannot vote for Trump after hearing his remarks Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Former New York Gov George Pataki Mr Pataki said Mr Trump should step down Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks New Hampshire Sen Kelly Ayotte Ms Ayotte will write in Mike Pence when she votes Getty Republican leaders backing away from Donald Trump after lewd remarks Arizona Sen John McCain Mr McCain will choose Mike Pence on Election Day Getty

The unearthed footage shows Mr Trump engaging in banter with then-Access Hollywood host Billy Bush before the New York businessman was set to film a cameo for the soap-opera, Days of Our Lives.

“I moved on her actually, she was down in Palm Beach and I failed. I’ll admit it. I did try to f**k her, she was married ... and I moved on her very heavily,” a hot microphone captured Mr Trump saying about an advance he made on a married woman. "I moved on her like a b***h."

Later in the footage he says: “You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful – I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait."

“And when you’re a star they let you do it,” he adds. “You can do anything… Grab ’em by the p***y.”

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The Huffington Post pointed out that Ms Trump was likely pregnant with now 10-year-old son Barron when her husband made the remarks to Bush, as the segment was reportedly taped in September 2005 at the earliest. Barron was born in March the following year.

In December 2005, he made derogatory remarks about his wife's body while she was pregnant with their youngest son during an interview with radio personality Howard Stern.

"I mean, she really has become a monster – in all the right places," he said.

"I mean monster in the most positive way. She has gotten very, very large – in all the right places."