Mike Segar/Reuters
Following a weekend of scandal and backlash, Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday that he now feels freed to speak his mind: “It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me and I can now fight for America the way I want to.” Several Republicans have rescinded their endorsement of the candidate following the release of leaked audio from 2005 showing the GOP nominee bragging about groping women. Trump’s tweet is an ominous sign of his aim to become somehow even more controversial. In a series of angry tweets, Trump called his party “disloyal” and said those Republican lawmakers abandoning his campaign efforts are “far more difficult than Crooked Hillary.” He called House Speaker Paul Ryan “weak” and “ineffective” for stating that he will no longer defend the nominee. Trump continued, “They come at you from all sides. They don’t know how to win—I will teach them!” By mid-afternoon, Trump’s meltdown continued, as he took swings further down the list of Republicans, including at Sen. John McCain, who said earlier in the day he may write in Sen. Lindsey Graham when he votes. “The very foul mouthed Sen. John McCain begged for my support during his primary (I gave, he won),” Trump write, “then dropped me over locker room remarks!” Trump has continued to insist that his lewd comments in the video were simply “locker-room talk,” despite cries that he was actually boasting about actions that would normally constitute sexual assault.