Paul Ryan said Friday night that he was "sickened" by Donald Trump's lewd comments about women, and announced that the GOP nominee would no longer campaign with him in Wisconsin on Saturday.

The speaker did not, however, comment on whether he still supports Trump for the presidency. He was reacting to audio and video showing Trump saying he could kiss and grab a woman's genitals with impunity because he is famous.


Hours after the footage posted on The Washington Post, Ryan's office said, "I am sickened by what I heard today."

"Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified," Ryan continued in a statement. "I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests. In the meantime, he is no longer attending tomorrow’s event in Wisconsin.”

The event, a "fall fest" in Elkhorn, Wisconsin that Ryan invited Trump to attend, is still on. Mike Pence will be standing in for Trump.

Ryan's relationship with Trump has long been chilly. The two agree on little policy-wise, and even less when it comes to proper political demeanor. But Ryan has stood steadfast with Trump over the past few months, while criticizing him when they disagree.

Now national Republicans — and members of Ryan's own House Republican Conference — are closely watching how the speaker handles this incident, which many lawmakers privately say is plainly disqualifying for Trump.

This is not garden variety political theater. Trump told Access Hollywood's Billy Bush that he tried to sleep with a married woman, pursuing her like a "bitch," taking her furniture shopping but failing in his conquest to win her over. He said that as a "star...you can do anything," including "Grab 'em by the pussy." After the woman ignored Trump's advances, the New York real estate tycoon said she acquired "the big phony tits and everything."

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Friday evening said in a statement that "there is absolutely no place for that sort of conduct or language in our society. Donald Trump must make a full and unqualified apology."

Asked if McCarthy is standing by Trump, an aide did not respond. Aides to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) also did not respond to a request for comment.

House Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) was the first member of the leadership team to respond, saying, "It is never appropriate to condone unwanted sexual advances or violence against women," she added. "Mr. Trump must realize that it has no place in public or private conversations today or in the past."

Republicans, by all appearances, have been walking a tightrope all year when it comes to how to position themselves vis-a-vis Trump. That tightrope just became a string of floss.

One House Republican lawmaker, speaking anonymously in order to candidly discuss his party's nominee, said of Trump, "He's going to be radioactive soon."

And House Republican aide said GOP congressional candidates soon will have to start campaigning as "a check on Hillary Clinton" because Trump is too toxic. "You can't defend this guy."

Put plainly, this is a bad situation for Ryan and McCarthy. They are the leaders of 247 lawmakers, all up for re-election. And for Ryan, it's a particularly acute political challenge: he is widely seen as a top prospect for the GOP nomination in 2020.

