Billy Bush Says Everyone at Access Hollywood Knew About Trump Tape, Said it Was Weaponized

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NBC News' Billy Bush And Jeff Rossen In Conversation For SiriusXM's TODAY Show Radio
Billy Bush at SiriusXM Studios on August 22, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Getty Images)

Former Access Hollywood anchor Billy Bush reveals that he was โ€œnot prepared for what happenedโ€ after audio from a 2005 conversation between him and Donald Trump was leaked during the 2016 election.

In an upcoming interview with CBSโ€™ Gayle King about the leak and its aftermath โ€” that resulted in the loss of his Today gig โ€” Bush says that he โ€œgot taken outโ€ even though he wasnโ€™t the target.

โ€œI just start kissing them. Itโ€™s like a magnet. Just kiss. I donโ€™t even wait. And when youโ€™re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,โ€ reality TV star Trump was overheard saying in the 2005 video. โ€œGrab โ€˜em by the pussy. You can do anything.โ€

NBC News' Billy Bush And Jeff Rossen In Conversation For SiriusXM's TODAY Show Radio
Billy Bush at SiriusXM Studios on August 22, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Getty Images)

The tape became infamous for Trumpโ€™s vulgar comments toward women and would become derided in posters and the ubiquitous pink hats worn by those attending the Womenโ€™s March.

In a preview of his upcoming interview on CBS This Morning with Gayle King, Bush said that โ€œeverybody at the network,โ€ NBC, was aware of the tape but that he didnโ€™t think it would be โ€œweaponizedโ€ in the way that it was following its release.

โ€œI was told, โ€˜Youโ€™re good, donโ€™t worry about it. Itโ€™s not you, you didnโ€™t say anything,'โ€ Bush recounted before describing how he had to hear from his driver that the network had canceled his car and, effectively, his job. โ€œI got taken out, but I wasnโ€™t the target.โ€

Later, Bush acknowledged that because he was in his first year as a co-host on Access Hollywood, he felt more pressured to go along with Trumpโ€™s comments.

NBC News' Billy Bush And Jeff Rossen In Conversation For SiriusXM's TODAY Show Radio
Billy Bush at SiriusXM Studios on August 22, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Getty Images)

โ€œTrumpโ€™s the kind of guy who would say, โ€˜Forget Billy Bush,'โ€ Bush said. โ€œYouโ€™re a little anxious around him because you just want it to end well and get out.โ€

Bush is returning to TV as a host of Extra on Monday. Kingโ€™s full interview with Bush will air on CBS Tuesday at 7 a.m. ET.

https://youtu.be/CKQzM9QwsTY