Husband's remarks unacceptable, offensive: Melania Trump

Melania also appealed to the American people to accept Donald Trump's apology just as she has

Calling Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's lewd remarks about groping women, as "unacceptable and offensive", his wife Melania Trump has appealed to the American people to accept his apology just as she has.

Amid the widespread condemnation of Trump's outrageous remarks, Melania said the comments do not "represent the man that I know" and that she hopes the public will accept his apology and focus on issues facing the nation and world.

"The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader," Trump's wife said in a rare public statement, following a video that surfaced recently in which Trump was caught on mic making extremely lewd and sexually offensive remarks against women.

Melania, Trump's wife of 11 years and a former Slovenian model, said she hopes people will accept her husband's apology "as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world."

Trump, 70, had married his third wife Melania, 46, in 2005. He made the lewd comments shortly after marrying her.

Earlier, the Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence said that he won't "condone his (Trump's) remarks and cannot defend them."

"We pray for his family and look forward to the opportunity he has to show what is in his heart when he goes before the nation tomorrow night," the Indiana governor said.

Meanwhile, Trump remained defiant in the face of the severe backlash and criticism within his own party over his remarks in the video, telling the Washington Post that he will not quit the presidential race.