ST. LOUIS _ Donald Trump denies he was discussing sexual assault in a 2005 recording that reveals him saying he can "do anything" with women because he is famous.
He says he has never kissed or groped women without consent. And he's continuing to characterize the recording as "locker room talk."
Debate moderator Anderson Cooper put it more bluntly, saying, "That is sexual assault."
Trump responded: "No, I didn't say that at all. I don't think you understand what I said."
Trump continually tried to pivot to foreign policy, seemingly suggesting his comments pale in comparison to the actions of the Islamic State.
In the 2005 videotape unearthed Friday, Trump was shown bragging about trying to seduce a married woman, groping and kissing other women against their will and getting away with it because of his fame.
Much of the first 15 minutes of the debate centered around the videotape and Trump's defense of it as "locker room" talk _ and Trump bringing up sexual assault claims against Bill Clinton.
"I have great respect for women. Nobody has more respect for women than I do," Trump said.
He also claimed there has "never been anybody in the history of politics that's been so abusive to women" as Bill Clinton.
Clinton and Trump did not shake hands before the debate, which suggested the hostility level was high.
Trump interrupted Clinton multiple times, earning a rebuke from Cooper to let her finish talking. He stood and paced as Clinton spoke and was combative from the start. After moderator Martha Raddatz posed a question about Clinton's email scandal, she apologized again and said she would do it differently.
Just moments later, Trump chastised the moderators for not bringing up the email issue and then said, "Nice. Three on one," implying a bias in the debate.
