Donald Trump, Caught Making Light of Sexual Assault on Tape, Apologizes — Watch

An video released yesterday that contained remarks by Donald Trump that he kisses women before they give permission and that his fame allows him to "grab them by the p*ssy" sent the Republican presidential candidate into damage-control mode.

People magazine reports that Trump's comments with a TV host — which he had previously chalked up to little more than locker-room banter — led Trump to issue a video apology... of sorts.

In the video viewed by 10 million people overnight, Trump said, "I never said I'm a perfect person nor pretended to be someone that I'm not. I've said and done things I regret and the words released today on the more than decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am."

In the most direct apology he has issued on any topic during his controversial campaign, Trump went on to say, “I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize."

Watch!

Still, he was anything but cowed by the media frenzy — which includes a damaging New York Daily News cover and countless Twitter weigh-ins — turning his apology into an attack on his opponent, Hillary Clinton, whom he will face in a second debate Sunday night.

“Hillary Clinton and her kind have run our country into the ground. I've said some foolish things, but there's a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed, and intimidated his victims. I pledge to be a better man tomorrow, and will never, ever let you down. See you at the debate on Sunday."

Hillary Clinton's immediate response to what social media has named the #TrumpTapes was to call Trump's remarks "horrific" and to urge Americans not to "allow this man to become president."

Other politicians, commentators, and celebrities are also reacting on social media: