Trump apologizes for video bragging about groping women

In his video apology released early Saturday morning, Trump says he's never claimed to be a "perfect person."

“Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am," Trump said.

“I said it, I was wrong and I apologize."

However, in a statement shortly after the video's release, Trump dismissed its importance.

“This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago," the GOP presidential nominee says. "Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course — not even close. I apologize if anyone was offended.”

Top Republicans denounced their nominee, and House Speaker Paul Ryan Friday night essentially uninvited Trump from an event in Wisconsin Saturday where they were scheduled to campaign together.

“I am sickened by what I heard today," the House speaker said in a statement. "Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified. 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.”

Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, will make an appearance instead, Trump said in a statement. Trump said he will not attend because. "I will be spending the day in New York in debate prep with RNC Chairman Reince Priebus."

That debate session could be interesting because Priebus issued a short, but blistering statement Friday night, denouncing the GOP nominee's language.

"No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever," Priebus said.

Trump's Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, tweeted that the latest revelations were "horrific."

"We cannot allow this man to become president," she wrote. A later Clinton tweet included a portion of the video itself with a note: "Women have the power to stop Trump."

Clinton's running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, wrote on Twitter that Trump's behavior was "disgusting."

"It makes me sick to my stomach," Kaine tweeted.

The video's release comes two days before a critical presidential debate where Trump hopes to rebound following a widely criticized performance in his opening face-off with Clinton.

In that debate, Clinton brought up a former Miss Universe's allegations that Trump had called her "Miss Piggy" and had made other disparaging remarks. That exchange led to days of the GOP nominee attempting to defend his actions, culminating in a series of tweets posted in the early morning hours by Trump in which he further attacked Alicia Machado, including referring to a sex tape.

In his apology, Trump took aim at Bill and Hillary Clinton, suggesting he would bring up past scandals, as he's hinted at in the past.

"Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims," Trump said. "We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday."

The reaction from both sides of the aisle Friday to Trump's past comments was withering.

Following the release of the video, Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement that Trump's language "amounts to sexual assault."

"Trump's behavior is disgusting and unacceptable in any context, and it is disqualifying for a man who is running for president of this country," she said.