USA
Condoleezza Rice, the 66th Secretary of State of the United States (US) has called for the Republican party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump, to withdraw from the race.
According to Rice who served in different capacities under the George Bush government between 2001 – 2009, Trump lacked the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth.
‘‘Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw,’‘ part of her message posted on her official social media handles read.
Her position is in line with calls by about two dozen top Republicans calling for Trump to drop out of the race following the release of a recording of him making lewd comments about women.
Trump’s running mate, Michael Pence and his wife, Melania Trump, had also criticized the businessman who wants to succeed Barack Obama as president of the US.
Trump lashed the ‘media and the establishment’ as wanting him out of the race so badly, ‘‘I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN,’‘ he said.
The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly – I WILL NEVER DROP OUT OF THE RACE, WILL NEVER LET MY SUPPORTERS DOWN! #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2016
In a statement he released on Saturday, Trump admitted his imperfection and stated that the said recording was one on many things he had done in the past and regretted.He said ‘‘I said it, it was wrong, and I apologize.’‘
‘‘I’ve 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 this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me, know these words don’t reflect who I am,’‘ he added.
He continued that his travels across the country had changed him and that he was committed to making America great. He added that the current issue was a distraction from the politics.
‘‘Let’s be honest. We’re living in the real world. This is nothing more than a distraction from the important issues we are facing today.
“We are losing our jobs, we are less safe than we were 8 years ago and Washington is broken. Hillary Clinton, and her kind, have run our country into the ground,’‘ Trump’s statement said.
Trump’s full statement
Here is my statement. pic.twitter.com/WAZiGoQqMQ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2016
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