Donald Trump's spokeswoman denies Melania intentionally wore 'pussy-bow' top during debate

Some speculated that Trump's wife was 'trolling the media' by wearing a Gucci shirt sold as a 'pussy-bow silk crepe de chine' to the town hall event

Melania Trump greets her husband Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after the town hall debate at Washington University on October 9, 2016 (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Melania Trump’s decision to wear a “pussy-bow” blouse during the second presidential debate was not intentional, Donald Trump’s campaign spokeswoman has said.

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The $1,100 Gucci top is sold online as a "Pussy-bow silk crepe de chine", leading many viewers to speculate whether it was a reference to the explosive 2005 recording of Mr Trump that emerged on Saturday. In it, he talks about using fame to sexually assault women and “grab them by the p*ssy”.

Mr Trump’s campaign spokeswoman denied any link between his comments and his wife's sartorial decision. CBS’s Sopan Deb tweeted “Campaign spokeswoman says this was not intentional” in response to a post from the Free Beacon newspaper that said “Melania trolls the press in 'p*ssy-bow' Gucci top!”.

Mrs Trump did however condemn the remarks after the tape emerged on Saturday. “The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me,” she said. “This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader. I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world.”

Mr Trump apologised for his lewd remarks at the start of the debate. “I'm very embarrassed by it, I hate it, but it's locker room talk. It's one of those things. I will knock the hell out of Isis,” he said.

In the leaked audio recording from 11 years ago, a 59-year-old Mr Trump is caught making a number of sexist, offensive remarks. Seemingly unaware that his microphone is on, he talks about trying to have sex with a married woman. “I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it,” he says. “I did try and f**k her [...] I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married.”

Mr Trump also talks about kissing women without asking. "I’ve gotta use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her,” he says. “And when you’re a star they let you do it.”

The release of the previously unheard tape has delivered one of the biggest blows to Mr Trump’s campaign so far, with many top Republicans withdrawing previous endorsements as a result.

‘I’m a gentleman… and she’s the devil’: What did Donald Trump says during the second presidential debate?

The 2005 video which shows him bragging that he can grab women’s genitals

“I'm very embarrassed by it, I hate it, but it's locker room talk. It's one of those things. I will knock the hell out of ISIS,”

On Bill Clinton

“What he's done to women, there's never been anybody in the history of politics in this nation that's been so abusive to women.”

On prosecuting Hillary Clinton

“I hate to say it but if I win I'm going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation. There has never been so many lies, so much deception. You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Mr Trump said, and in response, Mrs Clinton said: “It's just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in this country.” Mr Trump replied: “Because you'd be in jail.”

Whether or not Mr Trump supported the war on Iraq

Ms Clinton said she had insisted for the “10th or 12th time” that Mr Trump had supported the invasion of Iraq in 2004, and the myth of his opposition had been “debunked”.

“It’s not debunked,” he said. “It’s not debunked.”

Taxes

Much speculation is circulating about whether Mr Trump used a loss of almost $1 billion in 1995 to avoid paying federal income tax for over almost two decades.

When confronted over whether he took advantage of tax loopholes, he said: “I absolutely used it, and so did Warren Buffett, and so did George Soros and so did many people who Hillary is getting money from.”

On claims that he's sexist

“I have great respect for women. Nobody has more respect for women than I do.”

On what he respects about Hillary Clinton

“I will say this about Hillary - she doesn't quit, she doesn't give up. I tell it like it is. She's a fighter.”

On his controversial immigration policies

“It’s called extreme vetting. We’re going to areas like Syria, where they are coming in by the tens of thousands because of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton wanting to allow a 550 per cent increase [of refugees] over Obama.

“People are coming into this country. We have no idea who they are, where they are from and what their feelings are about this county.”