Nigel Farage has come under fire after attempting to defend Donald Trump's comments about 'grabbing' women.
The Brexit Party leader is a friend of the US president who is due in the UK this week for a NATO summit.
Britain's relationship with Trump's administration was discussed during tonight's ITV election debate being held at the channel's Salford studios.
Mr Farage described Mr Trump as the country's "most important friend in the world right now."
During the 2016 US presidential campaign, a tape surfaced on which Mr Trump can be heard bragging about grabbing women.
On it, Mr Trump can be heard saying that "you can do anything" to women including "grab them by the p***y."
When those comments were mentioned Mr Farage drew audible gasps from the audience when he said: "It was crass and crude and wrong, but men say dreadful things sometimes” adding "if all of us were caught out for what we did on a night out after a drink, none of us would ..."
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson replied saying: "Oh that's alright then..?!" with her adding "Is that what you do on a night out after a drink?"
Mr Farage replied: "He is president of the USA and that relationship matters. You are so anti-American you are prepared to put your hatred of Trump above our national interest that is a great mistake."
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price turned to Mr Farage, saying: “It can never be acceptable for a man to talk about grabbing a woman’s p***y and if you think it is you should be ashamed of yourself.”
The comments also drew ire on social media.
Labour's David Lammy said on Twitter: "Nigel Farage defends Donald Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women by saying “Men say dreadful things sometimes” after “a night out with a drink”.
"Absolutely outrageous. All leaders should stand against misogyny, not make excuses for it."
SNP councillor Julie McKenzie said: "Politics in the UK is toxic, and as long as dangerous white, middle aged men like this are permitted to spread bile on prime time tv the toxicity will multiply. "
Whilst Francis Lovering said: "Trump doesn't drink, Farage does, both stink #ITVDebate
Both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have sat out tonight's two hour debate, with Rishi Sunak deputising for the PM and Richard Burgon representing Labour.
Earlier Mr Burgon, when Mr Farage said Brexit will see become "independent", replied "there's nothing independent about taking instructions from Donald Trump when he rings up LBC."
Mr Price said as a gay man he was profoundly offended by Boris Johnson referring to "bum boys in tank tops" in one of his newspaper columns adding "neither Trump or Boris Johnson are fit to be in public office."
Before its closing Mr Farage described the debate as a "contest of who could be most politically correct so I must have failed here but maybe not with you at home."
