Politics

Why People Want Billy Bush Fired

October 8th 2016

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and NBC "Today Show" broadcaster Billy Bush are facing tremendous backlash for a newly released graphic recording from 2005.

Recording of Billy Bush and Donald Trump's conversation. The Washington Post - washingtonpost.com

At the time, Bush was an anchor on the NBC's "Access Hollywood." The recording obtained by The Washington Post and released Friday features Trump talking about a woman's breasts, grabbing women's private parts, and Bush seemingly encourages him.

The controversy has people on social media calling for Bush to be fired by NBC.

Although she didn't defend him, people like CNN Senior Political Correspondent Brianna Keilar said the backlash should focus more on Trump than Bush because he's a presidential candidate.

Brianna Keilar's tweet about Billy Bush. Twitter/@brikeilercnn - twitter.com

However, one tweet by Josh Lederman, a White House reporter for the Associated Press, points to a key issue with Bush in the video.

Josh Lederman's tweet about Billy Bush. Twitter/@joshledermanAP - twitter.com

Here's what Lederman is referring to and why it matters.

Trump and Bush were on a bus traveling to the set of NBC's "Days of Our Lives" for Trump's guest appearance on the soap opera. The video only shows the outside of the bus at this point, but the audio is clear. While Trump and Bush are having a conversation about a married woman Trump tried to sleep with, Bush apparently sees an attractive woman in a purple dress outside of the Bus.

"Sheesh, your girl's hot as sh*t. In the purple. Whoa, the Donald is good! Whoa, my man!"

Recording of Billy Bush and Donald Trump's conversation. The Washington Post - washingtonpost.com

Trump and Bush go back and forth about whether this is the woman they're scheduled to meet on the "Days of Our Lives" lot.

Trump says that he's going to take a breath mint in case he starts kissing this woman when they get off the bus. He also says that when you're famous you can do anything to women including "grab them by the p*ssy."

"I’ve gotta use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her. You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p---y. You can do anything. Oh, nice legs, huh?""

Recording of Billy Bush and Donald Trump's conversation. The Washington Post - washingtonpost.com

As they're seemingly getting off the bus, but before they're visible to the camera, Bush agrees that the woman in the purple dress has nice legs.

"Oof, get out of the way, honey. Oh, that's good legs. Go ahead."

After Bush and Trump get off the bus they are visible to the camera. They are met by a woman in a purple dress who introduces herself as Arianne. The Washington Post identified her as "Days of Our Lives" actor Arianne Zucker. After the initial introductions, Bush encourages Zucker to hug Trump.

"How about a little hug for the Donald? He just got off the bus?"

Recording of Donald Trump and Billy Bush's conversation. The Washington Post - washingtonpost.com

Likely with no knowledge of the previous conversation, Zucker obliges Bush and gives Trump a hug. Trump remarks that his wife Melania gave permission for the hug.

Recording of Donald Trump and Billy Bush's conversation. The Washington Post - washingtonpost.com

Bush set up a situation for Trump to touch Zucker, who is most likely the woman in the purple dress.

On the bus Trump referenced kissing the woman in the purple dress without permission, and he also referenced grabbing women "by the p*ssy."

People have called Trump's comments a reference to sexual assault.

Bush apologized for the comments and said he was "younger and less mature." However ATTN: Senior Social Content Editor made a strong point on Twitter.

Bush was 33 years old when he and Trump had the controversial and lewd conversation.

You can watch the full video of the conversation below.

RELATED: Donald Trump and NBC's Billy Bush Had a Recorded Conversation About a Woman's Body Parts

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Do you think Billy Bush should be fired?

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