Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, denying the multiple recent sexual harassment allegations currently being leveled at him, accused the media and his Democratic opponent of peddling "slanderous lies" and encouraged his supporters to "look at these people" who have accused him.
"These attacks are orchestrated by the Clintons and their media allies," Trump said during a Thursday afternoon rally in West Palm Beach, Florida. "The only thing Hillary has going for herself is the press."
Reading from a teleprompter in front of a rowdy crowd, Trump called the recent reports of sexual assault and harassment "slanderous libel" and a "coordinated attack" between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and the media, specifically the New York Times.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally Thursday in West Palm Beach, Florida. In his remarks, Trump vehemently denied recent allegations of past sexual assault and railed against mainstream media corruption and the "Clinton machine." (Getty Images/Joe Raedle)
But Trump also said he "knew" the reports and "false attacks would come."
"I knew this day would arrive; it was only a question of when," he said.
The Times released a report of two women Wednesday who went on record with their allegations of Trump inappropriately touching and kissing them in the past. The Palm Beach Post also profiled a third woman who accused Trump of inappropriately touching her.
Natasha Stoynoff, a former People reporter, also detailed in a first-person account Wednesday night an alleged sexual assault by Trump.
The Manhattan businessman teased Thursday that he has "substantial evidence to dispute" the sexual assault claims, which he said will be made public "at an appropriate time very soon."
In the meantime, Trump encouraged his supporters to "look at these people, study these people" who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
"You take a look, look at her, look at her words," he said of Stoynoff. "You tell me what you think. I don't think so."
Aside from the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, Trump accused the Times of "fighting desperately for its relevance and financial survival," adding that the paper "might not be around in a few years."
Trump on allegations: “These attacks are orchestrated by the Clintons & their media allies.” https://t.co/tsd4VYu2VI https://t.co/phdnjGWtVA
— CNN (@CNN) October 13, 2016
Trump also charged that the Clintons' "most powerful weapon" in the campaign is the press — receiving loud boos from his supporters:
The corporate media in our country is no longer involved journalism. They're a political special interest, no different than any lobbyist or financial entity with a total political agenda and the agenda is not for you, it's for themselves. Their agenda is to elect "Crooked Hillary Clinton" at any cost, at any price, no matter how many lives they destroy. For them, it's a war. And for them, nothing at all is out of bounds. This is a struggle for the survival of our nation, believe me.
The so-called "establishment" also did not escape Trump's wrath: "The establishment and their media enablers weird control over this nation through means that are very well known."
"Anyone who challenges their control is deemed a sexist, a racist, a xenophobe and morally deformed," he continued. "They will attack you, they will slander you, they will seek to destroy your career and your family."
But still, Trump sought to paint himself as a martyr for his "movement."
"Nevertheless, I take all these slings and arrows gladly for you," he said to cheers. "I take them for our movement so we can have our country back."
Trump teased the event on Twitter as a "major speech" and encouraged his supporters to "tune in" at noon — more than an hour before the rally actually got underway.
