The only thing that surprises me about the kinds of comments DJT makes is that people are actually surprised by them. He's been like this since long before he ever had any interest in politics. And no, this is not any attempt to normalize his behavior. I think we can all agree he's been a largely abhorrent human being for a long time and still is to this day. If anything, it highlights how badly the DNC botched the 2016 campaign that they even gave this guy a fighting chance at winning, let alone allowed him to win. The slam dunk bipartisan-receptive historical arguments against his credibility were there right alongside the basic "grab her by the pussy" and the aligning with the alt-right arguments, but no one would make them.
The "surprise" is also mostly disingenuous, and for effect.