Billy Bush Not Angry At Trump Over 'Access Hollywood' Tape: 'He Was Being Him'

Billy Bush said hes not angry with President Donald Trump for bragging about sexually assaulting women on the infamous Access Hollywood tape that leaked weeks before the 2016 election and cost him his job.

He was being him, Bush told CBS Gayle King in a prerecorded interview that aired Tuesday when asked if there were any hard feelings. I think part of that personality and character was why he was successful in a boardroom.

Bush said he would be open to have a conversation with Trump in the future because hes a really important person.

The tape, recorded during Bushs first year as co-host on Access Hollywood in 2005, features Trump boasting that he can grab women by the pussy because hes a star. Bush can be heard laughing in response.

The Washington Post first published a leaked copy of the tape in October 2016, which sparked intense bipartisan backlash toward Trump. The real estate mogul, however, remained the Republican nominee and won the presidential election a month later. Bush was fired days after the tapes release.

Asked why he didnt confront Trump about his lewd remarks at the time, Bush told King that he was worried about losing him as a guest.

Trumps the kind of guy who would say, Forget Billy Bush, he said. Youre a little anxious around him because you just want [the interview] to end well and get out.

Billy Bush returned to TV last night as host of the entertainment show @ExtraTV. Coming up in a network exclusive with @GayleKing, Bush tells us that since the \"Access Hollywood\" tape went public, he's had zero contact with President Trump. pic.twitter.com/Zr5KoRInpR

CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) September 10, 2019","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"CBS This Morning","author_url":"https://twitter.com/CBSThisMorning","cache_age":86400,"description":"Billy Bush returned to TV last night as host of the entertainment show @ExtraTV. Coming up in a network exclusive with @GayleKing, Bush tells us that since the \"Access Hollywood\" tape went public, he's had zero contact with President Trump. pic.twitter.com/Zr5KoRInpR CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) September 10, 2019\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":360,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/1171384824659173376/img/9Vy9WmhmO2CKiAWx.jpg","thumbnail_width":640,"title":"CBS This Morning on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/CBSThisMorning/status/1171384878174220289","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5d778d37e4b064513574c021","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/billy-bush-trump-access-hollywood-tape_n_5d778d37e4b064513574c021","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,gayle-king,billy-bush,access-hollywood","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"celebrity,media,entertainment,tv,us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5d778d37e4b064513574c021","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"relegenceId":2789214,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"gayle king","slug":"gayle-king","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/gayle-king","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/gayle-king","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/gayle-king"},"relegenceId":3727743,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Gayle King","slug":"gayle-king","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/gayle-king"},{"name":"billy bush","slug":"billy-bush","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/billy-bush","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/billy-bush","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/billy-bush"},"relegenceId":2778152,"url":"https://action.news/topic/billy-bush"},{"name":"access hollywood","slug":"access-hollywood","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/access-hollywood","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/access-hollywood","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/access-hollywood"},"relegenceId":3072983,"url":"https://action.news/topic/access-hollywood"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Billy Bush returned to TV last night as host of the entertainment show @ExtraTV . Coming up in a network exclusive with @GayleKing , Bush tells us that since the "Access Hollywood" tape went public, he's had zero contact with President Trump. pic.twitter.com/Zr5KoRInpR
CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) September 10, 2019

Bush made his return to TV on Monday as a host on NBCs Extra, where he addressed the Access Hollywood tape scandal and hows he evolved over the last three years.

Bad things happen to all of us, Bush said during Mondays episode of the entertainment news show. Going forward I will no doubt have to report on people who have had a bad moment. Im especially interested in seeing them own it and get back up.

During his interview with King, Bush said hes very grateful for his new job and is looking forward to speaking the truth.

I remember what it feels like to be all the way down, Bush said. And I wont ever forget that, and think thats a valuable asset.

Asked if he had ever thought about harming himself during that time, Bush said, Sure.

Your mind ... plays terrible games on you, when youre lying on a floor and youre crying and pulling your hair out, Bush said, adding that he never felt he was a serious candidate for self-harm.

Close to the end of the rope, but not at the frays, he said.

Exclusive! @AlecBaldwin sits down with @thebillybush for candid exclusive ahead of @ComedyCentral roast. https://t.co/UB8BoabVKa pic.twitter.com/uTxNZtDydP

ExtraTV (@extratv) September 10, 2019","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"ExtraTV","author_url":"https://twitter.com/extratv","cache_age":86400,"description":"Exclusive! @AlecBaldwin sits down with @thebillybush for candid exclusive ahead of @ComedyCentral roast. https://t.co/UB8BoabVKa pic.twitter.com/uTxNZtDydP ExtraTV (@extratv) September 10, 2019\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":540,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EED83ycU4AAAdet.jpg","thumbnail_width":960,"title":"ExtraTV on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/extratv/status/1171219234816315392","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5d778d37e4b064513574c021","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/billy-bush-trump-access-hollywood-tape_n_5d778d37e4b064513574c021","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,gayle-king,billy-bush,access-hollywood","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"celebrity,media,entertainment,tv,us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":6},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5d778d37e4b064513574c021","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"relegenceId":2789214,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"gayle king","slug":"gayle-king","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/gayle-king","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/gayle-king","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/gayle-king"},"relegenceId":3727743,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Gayle King","slug":"gayle-king","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/gayle-king"},{"name":"billy bush","slug":"billy-bush","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/billy-bush","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/billy-bush","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/billy-bush"},"relegenceId":2778152,"url":"https://action.news/topic/billy-bush"},{"name":"access hollywood","slug":"access-hollywood","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/access-hollywood","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/access-hollywood","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/access-hollywood"},"relegenceId":3072983,"url":"https://action.news/topic/access-hollywood"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Exclusive! @AlecBaldwin sits down with @thebillybush for candid exclusive ahead of @ComedyCentral roast. https://t.co/UB8BoabVKa pic.twitter.com/uTxNZtDydP
ExtraTV (@extratv) September 10, 2019

Bush claimed the tape had been weaponized and that he was essentially caught in the crossfire, adding that everyone at NBC knew about the tape before it was released.

I got taken out but I wasnt the target, he told King. I was told, Youre good. Dont worry about it. Its not you. You didnt say anything.

But after some reflection, he said he felt he was due for some kind of reckoning in my life.

I think I needed to grow up a bit, he said.

Trump, who has been accused by dozens of women of sexual misconduct, had initially dismissed the comments he made on the Access Hollywood tape as locker room talk. He later reportedly told some people that the voice in the recording wasnt his, prompting Bush to fire back in an op-ed for The New York Times in 2017.

Of course he said it, Bush wrote. And we laughed along, without a single doubt that this was hypothetical hot air from Americas highest-rated bloviator. ... We now know better.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Watch Bushs full interview with CBS This Morning here .