America's Great Divide: Cliff Sims Interview | FRONTLINE
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- Опубликовано: 12 янв 2020
- Cliff Sims served as a communications aide in the Trump White House and later wrote the book "Team of Vipers: My 500 Extraordinary Days in the Trump White House."
Sims' candid, full interview was conducted with FRONTLINE during the making of the two-part January 2020 documentary series “America's Great Divide: From Obama to Trump.”
Watch Part One here: • America's Great Divide...
And Part Two here: • America's Great Divide...
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This interview is being published as part of FRONTLINE’s Transparency Project, an effort to open up the source material behind our documentaries. Explore the transcript and interactive version of this interview, and others, on the FRONTLINE website:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
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This interview was conducted with FRONTLINE during the making of our two-part documentary series “America's Great Divide.”
Watch Part One here: ruclips.net/video/SnMBYMOTwEs/видео.html and Part Two here: ruclips.net/video/l5vyDPN19ww/видео.html
These interviews are so helpful in that it makes me realize how invested the media is in keeping us divided. Trump is Trump but it's as if the media is responding to his chaos with more of the same, making things far worse. Frontline is the first entity I'm aware of that is coming at this divide with the simple goal of trying to understand it, instead of profit off of it or exploit it. Hearing the perspective of those immersed in the situation, regardless of whether or not I agree or disagree with them on policy matters, makes me far less angry and much more aware of how far we've pulled away from healthy compromise. I studied religion in college, and it's as if we're constantly framing these issues in a black or white, demonic or angelic way, when actually there are plenty of shades of grey. It's tragic that things have spun so out of control, but at least here you can see that there are lots of people on both sides that genuinely care and while there are numerous things we may disagree on, what is utterly lost in the current political debate is how much we actually agree on and could find healthy accord on if we simply listened to one another and put judgement in the corner, at least temporarily. Thanks Frontline for being the ones to finally approach this crisis with maturity and compassion as opposed to screaming and blaming.
@@buttercrunch24 agree wholeheartedly!
Look everybody I want you all to know... I LIKE PANCAKES. :-P
Ct
Pls， play to the base. Trump killed half of the sheep geniuses via COVID-19. Pls do so- all good go team Darwin Award-
3:49, But within the first five minutes that I'm in the building there's a crisis moment where the President is frustrated with the coverage of the inaugural celebration."
THAT folks was Day 1.
He began his presidency by throwing a temper tantrum, and it looks like he'll be leaving the same way.
Lmao
Giving that guy the benefit of a doubt is what got us into that mess.
This might be the best episode in this entire series. WOW
Really enjoying these interviews. I struggle with understanding this Administration and definitely no fan of Trump. However, it's insightful to see what's going on from a different standpoint.
Agreed
Just imagine the middle class worker and you will understand trump.
I am happy to hear more Americans discuss.
He is President not the pope # I wish people would get off their high horse.
@@NathansHVAC ....'s political persona... He personally knows nothing but silver spoon. TRUMP 2020!
NathansHVAC I'm a middle-class worker. I think he's a scumbag
This is a great series. Watch them all.
You're right, I've been listening to these episodes in the shop every chance I get. They're very illuminating
Man... I can just see the yes man in him
YESSSSSSS
I wonder if this guy looks back at this point, June 2020, and realizes how absolutely wrong he was about Trump.
His statements are about his experiences at a point in time. Not sure how that could change.
No. He has his book to sell.
Are you that sick? It is opinion, just like your Tucker Carlson. Get a doctor... pls
An interview done presently would be interesting given that so many crimes have been committed by so many people.
When your modus operandi is to put your people against each other then they will start stabbing you and each other in the back. You create a culture of unrelenting and brutal competition where people will try to win any way they can. The leader who creates this environment is the one to blame and you cannot push the blame off onto the people who start stabbing other people in the back, they are just responding in the way you have forced to them to respond in order to survive in this brutal environment.
What do you think is accomplished when signs saying "All lives matter" are torn down, and only signs that say black lives matter are allowed at demonstrations?
Who is turning people against each other in that case?
@@bobbinsthethird That has nothing to do with my point. If you want to have a discussion about BLM and any counter movement or counter to that counter movement then fine go have it. But it has nothing to do with what I'm saying here.
@@bobbinsthethird I say that the 'all lives matter' statement is meant to demean and diminish the message of 'black lives matter'. It demeans by insinuating that blacks want something more or special when in fact what (I think) they want is to be seen as having lives that are as worthy as all other human beings. It diminishes by allowing the rest of us to not try to understand what it may be like to live black or confront our country's history that led to those life experiences. So finally, what is accomplished by not wanting 'all lives matter' signs at BLM protests is an attempt at not letting their message get co-opted or diluted.
well what do you think of the 2021 administration?? it's sure a real hoot isn't it?
I feel that previous administrations, from both parties, made some attempt to make in-kind replacements with the SCOTUS appointments, and understood the importance of maintaining the balance (conservative/moderate/liberal). I am a liberal, however I do not think the SCOTUS should be "stacked" in anyones favor, because the balance is what best serves the American people. Interesting that others do not see things that way at all.
Agreed. It's become all about power and I guess this is particularly true for Conservatives, given the denial of Garland in early 2019 vs the approval of Barrett later that same year.
I now understand why the White House appears to be so incompetent--Trump notwithstanding.
Most of these full interviews are really great.
I've watched a few of these Frontline interviews. I don't care for Trump or the Republican party right now, but I found most of these interviews are very interesting and enlightening (Bannon, Kelly, Coulter, Luntz). They help me understand the other side, which is absolutely a positive. That said, Cliff Sims seems to have a tenuous grasp on what happened during Trumps tenure beyond what he was told went on.
Welcome to real news.
Some people criticize this man because of his deep religious convictions. I myself as an old timey feminist don’t share his views on things. That’s why I appreciated his clarity and openness about what happened. He may not be my kind of a political party but he’s still seems like a decent guy. And his best version of an American. I salute that.
"I didn't think about it at the time." Was he qualified for his position, or was ignorance a prerequisite?
Franklin Graham. That endorsement didn’t age well.
WHY wasn't he asked about the PRIVITE MEETING (with NO transcript) of the meeting with Putin in Helsinki???
Incredibly fascinating insights through this man. Wow.
What a great interview. Great questions asked and Mr Sims did such a great job of revealing what's behind the curtain. Insightful and very much appreciated
When Donald Trump said there were good people on both sides he wasn’t talking about confederate statues.
How do you know? So who was he talking about.
Listen to the sentence before fake news.
He didn’t say that... it’s widely available
If this dude says benefit of the doubt on more time....
Indeed!
No kidding
At 48 and 56 minutes he admits that the press team was always making it up on the fly and had no clue what was actually happening. But doesn't seem to realize he should be ashamed of how he was just a tool
I found this interview fascinating. A real insight into how people can kid themselves. It took me all the way to the Charlottesville apologism to fully comprehend how sinister it is.
Here is the full quote of President Trump's statement about "fine people":
"You had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides. ... I saw the same pictures as you did. You had people in that group that were there to protest the taking down of, to them, a very, very important statue and the renaming of a park from Robert E. Lee to another name. ... So you know what, it's fine. You're changing history. You're changing culture. And you had people - and I'm not talking about the neo-Nazis and the White nationalists, because they should be condemned totally - but you had many people in that group other than neo-Nazis and White nationalists. Okay? And the press has treated them absolutely unfairly. Now, in the other group also, you had some fine people. But you also had troublemakers, and you see them come with the black outfits and with the helmets and with the baseball bats. You had a lot of bad people in the other group."
Asserting that President Trump was praising the Nazis and White Supremacists when he clearly did not is the "Charlottesville Fine People hoax".
The arrogance of these GOP commentators describing Trump as some necessary blunt force instrument to attack American politics, all of them knowing that such blunt force is unlikely to hit THEM, I can't stand it. This is the class divide personified, this and the Coulter interview.
This was another excellent series spoken by someone from the inside; a true believer. I’m not convinced that Trump did anything except what would personally benefit Trump. That’s who he is. My concern with the man is how he managed to put Starz in their eyes.
Ride with the devil then ask God for forgiveness on Judgement Day.
Thanks frontline for the upload/ Danke von Deutschland. Hope we can be friends again like before. "Ich bin ein Berliner was on of the best moments by you other president. Now times are different.
Is Trumpism gaining support in Germany, Sweden and other Euro countries?
@@jnunez7037 Hey from Germany/ we where and still are looking for support from the US/ where so used to it that America where the shining light and that you guys would keep an open mind and share your goods, witch are your strength in having empathy, love and also humbleness like togetherness. Now its divide you and your president want and spread. That movement does find "support" and something in all ourselves jumps onto that kind of aggression feeling. Its harder to be a friend and help, easier to be against somehow. Imagine the whole world would unite and work together. Lets start with the man in the mirror. Love and peace from the old country.
J N Yes it is, we see more opportunism in politics and anti establishment parties and thoughts. (Netherlands)
Ich bin ein Pferdearsch
Evangelics must be one of the most hypocritical groups on the planet. If pro-life why not make life easier and more survivable for the worst off? Why not helping everyone without health-care to safe lives??
Was raised an X-conservative, but chose to move on in middle adulthood.
Conservatives find non-conservatives highly annoying because their professed values, personalities and sensibilities differ from those of conservatives.
What's this country going to do?
The Right and the left cannot live together any more!
Their perspective is that health care being taken over by the government would make it worse and therefore not be best for the lower income population. No reasonable voter thinks 'I want poor people to be worse off'.
@@mattpatterson9496
Medicaid?
Medicare?
Social Security?
@@MH-be6hr
such as ...
Masks!
Republicans never want non-republicans to have money, easy life, relaxed with income security and food security.
@@GottaWannaDance I genuinely don't understand what you are trying to communicate to me with this comment. Please use complete sentences so that I can understand you better; and give a proper response.
perfect interview!
If this dud
So basically they had no problem selling their souls to the devil as long as they got what they wanted politically? Where is the morality in that?!
He's a terrific spinner.
I agree. Sell their souls to get what they want ! Exactly !
I love these interviews! I definitely am upset with how much of my family has been influenced into delinquency by Fox News. :(
I appreciate this perspective. It makes me understand a little better why Trump comes across (to me) as both pretty smart and totally incompetent at the same time.
He doesn't have a plan. He's chaotic & dangerous
What time were the inauguration pictures taken? Besides, Obamunists have a lot of time on their hands.
What a level headed guy. Great interview.
Except that he is a religious extremist.
He's not level headed just a politician and a lier
@@mimig7737Trump 2020
No, he's a religious nutjob that doesn't understand that there should be a clear separation between religion and the state. It's terrible that evangelicals think that they can force their religion on everyone else.
Hopefully we can end that relationship.
Good interviewer
That’s a big if! Hahahaha!🧖🏾♀️
The problem is all those giddy guys on that plane are on the wrong side of history.
They are very effective.
Becoming an atheist was the best decision i have ever made
Your not an aethist...
@@cooldudecs you're
Serious question for Mr. Sims (the gentlemen being interviewed) - If Trump is not a racist nor traffics in racial loaded/coded language, what did he mean when he told Paul Ryan while watching the Tiki torch protesters shouting about who would not replace them “those are my people”?
When he says "If we give the President the benefit of the doubt" he is really saying "let's live in denial for this little bit". Not being able to face who Trump really is distorts everything.
Incredible to think this lightweight had that job.
It's very interesting how the people who claim they don't want judges legislating from the bench supported a president who would legislate from the bench. The saying, "You can't legislate morality", clearly means nothing to such individuals.
Trump also said about "The Russia Thing" to Lester Holt that he KNEW firing Comey would EXTEND the entire investigation but that Comey needed to go.
Did you happen to see late night tv (I think it was Letterman) on the day Comey was fired? The crowd went wild until it sunk in that it was Trump who did the firing. The left-leaning crowd didn't like Comey for bringing up Hillary's emails just before the election.
After the Mueller investigation and the corrupt FISA warrant expose, I have no sympathy for him.
This guy says importet instead of important and he uses that word often.
It’s a generational affectation too • you hear it a lot in the under 35 crowd •
I wonder why Frontline doesn't cover other President's with this much zealous?
They did. Bush and Clinton. You just came late to the party
You are at a level where a personal relationship is not in the cards. You are an employee and should not expect intimate fidelity.
'Hes up there working' LOL
yeah, RIGHT
Working on his lousy golf game. And he is a golf cheat to boot. Double Bogey-in-Chief.
I wonder if this perso had to speak to the 1/6 commission?
This is one of the best analysis of the inner workings of the Trump WH.
This guy is full of it. Bolton gives a better view of Trumps chaotic management style
That's the definition of a narcissist!!
I don't know .... it's important that we listen to both sides, and I'm glad Frontline gives the Right an audience here. However, I really chafe at hearing a Republican complain about how "unfair" it is to have staff trying to resist Trump's policies from within the White House, etc. when you consider that that administration (1) seriously talked about using military force against our own citizens, (2) attacked & abandoned our allies on multiple occasions, (3) cozied up to dictators and undermined our own intelligence & law enforcement agencies, and (4) ultimately tried to foment a coup to derail democracy in this country. Saying those things are "unconventional" is the understatement of the millennium.
Most people aren't against a party expressing opposing viewpoints and wanting a balanced policy approach that suits both sides of the political spectrum. But when that party becomes a cult of personality whose mission is to convert this country into a 3rd world dictatorship, I'm sorry friend but you CANNOT normalize that
I loath Individual One, having said that, wasn't your 15 seconds up along time ago? Your long tenure in the WH isn't going to make your, or any other short-timers accounts, more interesting
The thing I found out about Trump is loyalty is a one way street- how’d that cult of personality work out?
Wonder what this guy thinks of Jan 6
Way to explain a president... Chaos...sad day to be an American... President Chaos...
We don't need any more chaos and division.
it's sad to see the greatest thing of my time to fall to fashism, it breaks my heart....
I feel the same way. I'd recommend you avoid the Frank Luntz interview in this series. I've always had this odd thing with the guy where I can't figure out if I hate him more than I respect his opinion. Not that they're mutually exclusive. But if you'd told me a couple of hours ago I would shed a tear because Frank Luntz was crying, I'd have said you were mad as a bag of cats. Him crying like that is the single scariest thing I've seen for the US. In my life.
l. kerr yeah I watched that one 😅, I don't think that these people are inherently bad, we have examples of people in our lives I would bet that have gone the wrong way, the thing here is that, the USA has become such a complex thing, for apparently, our tiny heads, that we can't deal with it, they can't deal with it, properly...., but you know what, I'd put my faith where it's been in quite a while, with People, with every last one of you that makes this world that I live in amazing, you've all done it uptill now 😊
@@Nicolas-uu3jr Well that's a heartwarming sentiment mate. Good on you. You're right of course as much as there's a lot to worry about you come across alot less dickheads and misery in the world than you'd expect given how grim the news has been lately. Have a good 'un mate.
@@13lochie you too dude✊🏽♥️
is the king naked ? this man and will follow never challenge
Have been loving these interviews and listening to the competing narratives in a task that congress has truly abandoned over the years. However it both tries ones patience and makes it difficult to take someone seriously on something as important as constitutional law when their first complaint about the supreme court is that they make judgements and in doing so demonstrate a basic lack of knowledge of the Common law system and it's bedrock integration into the separation of powers.
The San Francisco 9th circuit was not constitutional.
We don't care what evangelical extremists think, this country is not to be run by religious beliefs but rather logical reasoning.
Very interesting interview. I'm curious to read a body language expert's take on the interview. Many moons ago I took a course on it and Cliff Sims seems to exude all the cues. Shaking the head yes or no while saying something they believe or do not. Eye movements for visual or auditory thinking.
be religious in your house and in your church. keep it out of public, govt, lives of others who have different beliefs
One can pray, worship, preach, shout his or her religion in the public square - Constitutionally protected - read it - it's what makes Ametica great - not again, but Always! What's your issue w/ religion? Now i'll wait & watch for you to cast your illogical dispersions😂
I actually supported Trump at first but didnt vote because im not from the US or anything. I changed my mind when I saw his trip to Saudi Arabia because thats when I knew what the agenda was. Saudi Arabia is the worst of rhe worst & ive lived there for 6 years working in the financial sector. I saw some extremely shady deals going down & understood why he went there.....lets just say its no coincedence that the US now finds itself at conflict with Iran ;)
When you call Saudi Arabia your ally you know its really bad...
(My job was working as a liason between a well known US arms manufacturer & a Saudi corporation. War & conflicts in regions is not what it appears & people like me see things the geberal public have no idea about)
Everybody has their issues. Overall, he's better than ANY other globalist shill from either party.
Did you think he would say Saudi Arabia was not an ally?
@@hebber1961 very true and obvious
A great point made about 'energizing' that slice of the population who can push the election in your favor....
6:36 ...and no, it ain't too goddamn beaucoup.
Lol he doesn't come to the office until 11am but he's up there working not just watching TV. Gtfoh
Don't recall hearing much of this guy's material in your PBS programming.
You have material to recall now.
And you're watching...PBS.
Dear God, either mute this guy swallowing or give him a flipping drink of water. He drives me nuts with his dry throat gulps. Erg, so ick!
One-hour-and-tweny-eight minute job interview!!
More than a few times he was twisting in the wind, constructing BS excuses for his all-mighty orange one.
Speaking of evangelicals, so many Christians left church because these evangelicals backed Trump.
this poor guy. He is a classic example of someone who has been in a cult. Thanks Frontline for posting these interviews.
He sounds so pitifully sycophantic.
At least the Christian cult has purpose in life.
If they (FBI/DOJ) don't find anything that really touches the President (Trump). What an extraordinary amount of damage has been done to our democracy. By spending two years under this giant cloud over the whole country. - Cliff Sims
Cliff Sims is a precise thinker as contrasted by the interviewer's sloppy questions. He says many umm's in trying to get his thoughts together. It's irritating.
Embarrassing to hear this guy endorse Trump's chaos management theory - just means that Trump is an amateur. The White House it turned out suffered greatly because of this and ultimately Trump destroyed his ability to win a second term while at the same time losing the Senate and the House. All these people are amateur, celeb obsessed/fascinated grifters. ......"Next!" (lol)
Svenskt film med Anders Zorn och Albrekt Engström
Poor kid. A cult is a terrible thing to lose.
I am a black middle class woman able to help my son pay his student's loans I don't like the progressive agenda where you don't work I believe in no hand outs I think that hurt the black community
BOT Account??
@@ogunbekuno2009 You're an idiot.
I am a white middle class veteran mother and my daughter is in the Navy with student loans. They are not paying hers either. I help my daughter too. Student loans are tough for all middle class.
Not a Trump supporter though to make it clear. They were actually supposed to pay my daughters loans. Its not just hurting black communities. Thats what I am saying. We even had her enlist and they blocked paying her loans up and down. After enticing her to enlist to pay her student loans. She gets free school now. But they arent paying her loans.
Tony FC lol, why so antagonistic Tony? Are you a BOT account too?
They did not vet the facts properly before saying them publicly, thus ruining his credibility. shocking... and spicer is a fool, to say the least
Cant beat CNN
I’ve been watching this entire series but I have to admit, the first thing that came out of this guy’s mouth turned me off. How are you an evangelical Christian, who wants your churches to have tax exemption status but yet you want to tell the rest of the country how to live their lives? And you’re willing to compromise your strict moral and ethical standards to stand side by side with an unethical president to push your agenda? Um no, I can’t abide by this mentality, it’s too one-sided and intolerant of others, yet asking for tolerance of them...
It's fascinating to see how Sims makes excuses for Trump for himself on everything.
Yeah seriously. It's like he know's he's making a deal with the devil but doesn't want to say it out loud. Also funny how he removes himself from the administration. O no it was Trump... aren't you part of the white house?
Did you mean simps?
I'm glad you are watching real reporting and not just opinion
He is covering his own butt...... he is another one in Trump’s camp. Not someone to be trusted. Do you remember the alternative fact?! He is playing another form of it!!!!
He’s making Trump look way smarter than he really is. He has failed at everything but winning the presidency and did he really win that.
Its almost as if your ideology has allowed you to misconstrue the entire Trump administration.
Wall going up. 100 miles so far
Oh boy, we now know there was a resistance in the White House who at this moment I can remember his name. But he came forward afterwards, anyone remember his. Are? This guy drank the “kooks”aide.
Have the so called Evangelical Christians ever heard of the proverbial Faustian Bargain?
I find most Frontline interviews to be thoughtful and insightful. This one…. Not so much.
The former staffer guy from the Trump administration thinks that it is plausible or credible for people to give the former president the benefit of the doubt as it relates to race or racism. Come on… Really???
His words “I don’t know why Trump was unable to lead on the issue of racial reconciliation?” Like maybe it’s because he like his buddy Stevie B has certain entrenched views that would be at odds with such a position?
Trump should not get the benefit of the doubt on anything! And, there's no way that Sessions could have know that he would have to recuse!
No he did not with staff on staff violence lmao
This yutz. Donald Trump was t mad at Sessions for ‘abandoning,” him. He was upset because Trump had a plan and sessions just ducked it up. You’re here to talk. So talk. You came off like a complete child the way you danced around the truth.
Hard to not notice how the PBS interviewer always changed the topic of conversation when Sims brings up some situation that portrays Trump in a positive light..like "oh positive comment about Trump this is a dead end so lets try this other subject to see if we can get Trump in a negative light" - and this whole interview series does the exact same thing...and alot more too....we all know that the US political Establishment hated Trump and this interview series feels like Establishment funded anti Trump propaganda thinly masked as a legitimate interview...this type of show would not have flown as a legit piece 25 or 30 years ago when the main mantra of the media was to strive for complete political neutrality & balanced journalism....
Apple 🍎 Cart Be A Modest Slaten
Talk Soft If not At All !?!?!
Cliff Sims is citing ‘Wikipedia?’ 🤣
Probably a Soviet double agent.
What Does The Term DOJ ❤️🌎🎤🎤✅💜 ?????? Means What 🌎🎤
Huh Lol
My god, I can't believe this guy. What a quisling. Unfortunate he has so little respect for the rule of law. I do hope his career suffers for his connection to the man who spent four years breaking the law. Cliff Sims helped undermine this democracy.
Great series, provides insight into the Trump ego and all of the people he has fired and why. Trumps insecurities and his inability to surround himself with those who are intelligent, capable professionals. This young hokie from Alabama has clearly hit it on the nail; this election was about shifting the Supreme Court toward a conservative agenda. Period.
That's just not true.
He was also getting rid of people that didn't agree with him. He wanted 100 percent loyal people that would do his bidding, even if is illegal. Like hussein, Bin Ladin and Putin
@@joemwas5442 It is true !
Glad to see you clearly got the message.
I hate it when people verbally add a D to important!
Wow, is this guy short sighted. Trump only defends the religious right to further his own agenda while spewing hatred for people of other faiths.
X-Files
Earthling human beings (love) vs. hostile alien vampires (greed).
The evangelical monsters are winning.
Isn't this the guy to whom John Kelly is reported to have said "I have never had a more incompetent subordinate than you in my life ?”
I've been listening to this guy talk thinking he's sincere, he's telling truths, but at the same time, I sense insincere and a play at the truth. This morning I'm listening and while he's talking, my thought was he's a flim-flam man. He's an evangelical con, he tells some truth, but then doubles back with some alternative crap. 🤔 I feel like I've been duped by this interview.
Yes, a little bit like Trump
He's too young and inexperienced to be taken seriously. He is naive to speak with such confidence and certainty.