Trump has once again been found to be misogynistic and violent towards women. A tape released by the Washington Post from 2005 records a newly married Trump trying to have an extra-marital affair with a married woman. The language he uses is that of a rapist, saying that power and money allows him to have sex with anyone he desires to. Though this is abhorrent language to be hearing from a presidential hopeful, it is in line with everything else he has been saying this election season. So what made this revelation different?

The tape that was released Friday, Oct. 7, signaled a mass departure of establishment Republicans from the candidate they nominated to represent their party. John McCain walked back his support, and Paul Ryan cut Trump from a joint appearance in Wisconsin. So why was this the final straw? Trumps disdain for women, as well as many other demographics, is a well-established part of public opinion. Many, especially those who have worked close to Trump, say that this isn’t even representative of the worst things he has said. Past contestants of his show “The Apprentice” say that this is his small talk and some of the things that were cut from the episodes were much worse.

The main difference with this video is that it is no longer possible to deny his behaviors. Though this mark should have been drawn before this point, with his statements about different races, the disabled, and women in the past, still being abhorrent, this is evidently the line that Republican leaders have drawn. Though the vast majority of evangelicals and religious conservatives reside in the Republican Party, Trump still gained their support, but preaching violence and sexual molestation because of power was the step too far. Many of those who rescinded their support were stating they were doing so for the women in their lives. They finally decided they don’t want a country being lead by a man who says such things, but the damage has been done. Trump has irrevocably changed the Republican Party, who has for a long time espoused their strong and steadfast morals. Even in this case, the majority of people supporting Trump remain unshaken, and their resolve against the establishment has been strengthened. Trump represents many of the darker things about society, and has mobilized those who have secretly held onto those same things. So, though this tape may have caused ripples, it hasn’t stopped the motion and support of these groups of people.