Washington - US President Donald Trump said he is "not at all surprised" by a report this week that Hollywood producer and major Democratic donor Harvey Weinstein has been accused by a number of women of sexually harassing them or making unwanted physical contact.
"I've known Harvey Weinstein for a long time. I'm not at all surprised to see it," Trump told reporters as he departed the White House on Saturday evening, headed to a fundraiser in North Carolina.
Trump was then asked by reporters about comments that he made in a 2005 interview with Access Hollywood, during which he bragged about sexually grabbing women without their permission and getting away with it because he's a celebrity. In addition to that video, which was made public by The Washington Post in October 2016, more than a dozen women have accused Trump of sexually touching or kissing them without their permission.
"That's locker room, that's locker room," Trump said, using a shorthand for the lengthier explanation that he gave for the remarks last year - that he was simply speaking crudely as he says men often do in locker rooms.
Earlier this week, the New York Times published a major investigation that revealed that Weinstein had reached settlements with at least eight women who accused him of sexual harassment.
In a statement to the New York Times, he said: "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it. Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go."
On Sunday Weinstein was terminated from his position at the Weinstein Co, according to a statement by the board of director.
The statement announcing the firing said the decision had been made “in light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days.” In an interview, Lance Maerov, one of the company’s four board members, said it had been brought to their attention that Weinstein had violated the company’s code of conduct at some point in the past week, but he would not specify what the violation was.
Maerov said Weinstein had been notified of his termination by email Sunday evening.