Donald Trump and the RNC | NomiNation, Ep. 9

(playful piano music)

(applause and cheering)

The convention will kick off right here in Cleveland,

and joining us now is Donald Trump's campaign chairman,

Paul Manafort.

The celebrities are kind of a strange hodgepodge,

unless I'm missing something, and then it's family,

and there's not a lot of major Republicans coming to town.

Where is John Kasich?

Most of the Republican leadership-

[Mika] Is he coming and speaking?

Except for one or two.

(audience laughing)

He's the governor of the state.

Look, Kasich, Kasich is the only-

Yeah, and you know what?

He's making a big mistake.

He's embarrassing his state, frankly.

Folks, I'm supposed to leave with Governor Kasich.

Mind if I grab my bag?

Sorry.

I'm Doug Preisse, and I'm a member

of John Kasich's kitchen cabinet

and as an informal senior advisor,

and was privileged and pleased to travel with him

on every single trip of his presidential campaign

for 17 months.

(upbeat music)

(We Are the Champions by Queen)

(applause and cheering)

(playful piano music)

Well, the word bittersweet keeps entering my mind,

although there's a little more bitter than sweet.

I'm not angry at Donald Trump.

Still surprised at how this campaign has so far played out.

Some delegations are a little less enthusiastic

because they were supporting other candidates.

(cheering)

[Delegate] Ohio, the mother of presidents,

proudly casts its 66 votes for Governor John Kasich.

(applause and cheering)

[Speaker] Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation

and the rules of this convention ...

There are lots of folks who say,

Well, you shouldn't be bitter.

The fact of the matter is, John Kasich's not bitter at all.

I'm not bitter.

There isn't a bitter person in his group.

[Donald Trump Jr.] It is my honor to be able

to throw Donald Trump over the top

in the delegate count tonight

with 89 delegates,

and another six for John Kasich.

Congratulations, Dad, we love you!

(applause and cheering)

You know, they say,

The softest pillow is a clear conscience.

I think all of our consciences are pretty clear,

and the governor's been up here working very hard

welcoming delegations outside the arena.

(Baba O'Riley by The Who)

Are you having fun?

(crowd cheering)

Well, have a great time.

You know, we hear a lot about negative and division,

and polarization, and we're down, and we're down.

Let me tell you, I'm an optimist about America.

Believe that standing on principle and having ethics

and integrity can make a huge deal.

(playful music)

[Bill] Do you think he's being a sore loser?

[Donald Trump] Well, I don't want to say that,

but you know what?

It was a very contentious primary.

He lost very, very badly,

and maybe if I were in his position,

I wouldn't show up either.

[Correspondent] Every campaign has to make

this transition, right?

You go from an ugly primary to now having to endorse

the person who actually made it onto the ticket.

What is always fascinating, though, I think,

is when the former hopefuls have to speak,

and we're gonna hear from Ted Cruz tonight.

What does Ted Cruz say tonight?

[Correspondent] Well first of all,

we're not sure he's gonna endorse him.

(crowd yelling)

Please, don't stay home in November.

Stand and speak and vote your conscience.

Vote for candidates up and down the ticket

who you trust to defend our freedom

and be faithful to the Constitution.

(yelling)

What I find interesting is

we always run into voters and citizens who say,

We want leaders who have the courage of their conviction,

and yet, I think we're seeing the governor's courage

playing out because he's remaining where he was

throughout the campaign, sticking by his principles

and not compromising on them.

(applause)

Nobody knows the system better than me.

(audience laughing)

Which is why I alone can fix it.

(cheering)

There have been points along the calendar

where it's been suggested by others or by the Trump campaign

or Mr. Trump himself that, okay,

this is now going to be different.

Perhaps we've arrived, we certainly have arrived

at one of those points on the calendar.

So let's see how it plays out.

It could start, many of us say it should start,

from the mouth of the nominee.

[Donald Trump] Honestly, that was all about unity.

And we may be missing a couple of people.

We may be missing.

Again, I don't want his endorsement.

If he gives it, I will not accept it,

just so you understand.

If he gives it, I will, I will not accept it.

Won't matter.

(pensive music)

(balloons popping)