Donald Trump

'He is a Good Person': Trump Defends O'Reilly Following Sexual Harassment Revelations

As droves of advertisers continue to flee the Fox program "The O’Reilly Factor" following revelations of sexual harassment settlements filed by women claiming inappropriate behavior, besieged host Bill O’Reilly has at least one high profile defender, Donald Trump.

During an Oval office interview with the New York Times Wednesday, Trump praised O’Reilly adding he didn't believe he did anything wrong.

“I think he’s a person I know well — he is a good person,” said Trump. “I think he shouldn’t have settled; personally I think he shouldn’t have settled. Because you should have taken it all the way. I don’t think Bill did anything wrong.”

As of Wednesday at least 25 advertisers had withdrawn support from the program, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi. 

Fox News said in a statement Tuesday that it values its ad partners and was "working with them to address their current concerns about the O'Reilly Factor. At this time, the ad buys of those clients have been re-expressed into other FNC programs."

Trump's defense of O'Reilly was quickly slammed by NARAL. In an interview with The Wrap National Communications Director Kaylie Hanson Long said, “A man who bragged about committing sexual assault and grabbing women by the p---- is defending Bill O’Reilly. Enough said.” 

Other advertisers dumping O'Reilly include The Wonderful Co., the company behind Fiji bottled water, Wonderful Pistachios and POM pomegranate juice, says it will no longer advertise on the show. "We are committed to a respectful and inclusive workplace environment and insist upon the same from our business partners," said spokesman Steven Clark.

Coldwell Banker on Twitter it hadn't intended its ads to run during the show in the first place and said it pulled future ads from the show.

Drug maker Eli Lilly, trucking company Old Dominion Freight Line and life insurance provider Pacific Life also said Wednesday they would not advertise on the show. Jenny Craig said late Tuesday it had pulled its ads from the show.

The advertisers pulled out after the New York Times revealed over the weekend that five women were paid settlements totaling $13 million to keep quiet about supposed sexual harassment by O'Reilly.

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