Blunt, R-Mo., who has tread carefully around his endorsement of Trump on the top of the Republican ticket, was the first in the Missouri delegation to publicly criticize Trump’s for the 2005 remarks.

“Donald Trump's statements were disrespectful and inappropriate, and he was right to apologize,” Blunt Tweeted late Friday night. The Tweet did not say anything about whether he was considering retracting his endorsement.

On Saturday, according to a Tweet by a Fox News reporter and verified by Blunt campaign communications director Burson Snyder, the senator said at the Ozarks Farm Festival that "as long as the choice is...Clinton &...Trump, I'm for Donald Trump."

When previously asked about Trump, Blunt has said he would support whomever the Republicans nominated.

Trump's remarks have resonated in some local congressional races.

In Illinois' congressional district 12, where incumbent Republican Mike Bost has been targeted by national Democrats seeking to take control of the House, Bost's challenger, C.J. Baricevic, called on Bost to "disavow the reckless, demeaning, and disrespectful candidacy of Donald Trump.