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Team of Vipers: My 500 Extraordinary Days in the Trump White House Hardcover – January 29, 2019
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THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"Sims’s vivid portrait of Trump shrewdly balances admiration with misgivings, and his intricate, engrossing accounts of White House vendettas and power plays have a good mix of immersion and perspective. The result is one of the best of the recent flood of Trump tell-alls." ―Publishers Weekly
The first honest insider’s account of the Trump administration. If you hate Trump you need the truth; if you love Trump you need the truth.
After standing at Donald Trump’s side on Election Night, Cliff Sims joined him in the West Wing as Special Assistant to the President and Director of White House Message Strategy.
He soon found himself pulled into the President’s inner circle as a confidante, an errand boy, an advisor, a punching bag, and a friend. Sometimes all in the same conversation.
As a result, Sims gained unprecedented access to the President, sitting in on private meetings with key Congressional officials, world leaders, and top White House advisors. He saw how Trump handled the challenges of the office, and he learned from Trump himself how he saw the world.
For five hundred days, Sims also witnessed first-hand the infighting and leaking, the anger, joy, and recriminations. He had a role in some of the President’s biggest successes, and he shared the blame for some of his administration’s worst disasters. He gained key, often surprising insights into the players of the Trump West Wing, from Jared Kushner and John Kelly to Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway.
He even helped Trump craft his enemies list, knowing who was loyal and who was not.
And he took notes. Hundreds of pages of notes. In real-time.
Sims stood with the President in the eye of the storm raging around him, and now he tells the story that no one else has written―because no one else could. The story of what it was really like in the West Wing as a member of the President’s team. The story of power and palace intrigue, backstabbing and bold victories, as well as painful moral compromises, occasionally with yourself.
Team of Vipers tells the full story, as only a true insider could.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherThomas Dunne Books
- Publication dateJanuary 29, 2019
- Dimensions5.71 x 1.39 x 10.08 inches
- ISBN-10125022389X
- ISBN-13978-1250223890
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Sims’ book makes much of infighting among White House staff. “The whole thing felt like Game of Thrones, but with the characters from Veep,” writes Sims" ―Axios
"What is most memorable about Team of Vipers is the joylessness of working for this president and the acrid aftertaste it leaves." ―The Guardian
"But like other accounts of the Trump White House written by former staff members or journalists, the narrative and anecdotes support much of the real-time reporting about the administration. Mr. Sims also writes that leaks by various staff members have been in service of creating specific portraits of events or undermining rivals. They have not always portrayed the full truth, he suggests." ―The New York Times
"Sims, who enjoyed uncommon personal access to Trump, recounts expletive-filled scenes of chaos, dysfunction and duplicity among the president, his family members and administration officials. Unlike memoirs of other Trump officials, Sims’s book is neither a sycophantic portrayal of the president nor a blistering account written to settle scores." ―The Washington Post
“Some lively writing, but also has some extraordinary exchanges.” ―John Dickerson, Slate Political Gabfest
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Thomas Dunne Books (January 29, 2019)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 125022389X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1250223890
- Item Weight : 1.25 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.71 x 1.39 x 10.08 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #356,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #463 in United States National Government
- #512 in United States Executive Government
- #942 in US Presidents
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Cliff Sims served as Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Strategy and Communications, helping to oversee the 18 agencies of the U.S. intelligence community (IC). In this role, he was awarded the Director’s Exceptional Achievement Award in recognition of superior accomplishment and valuable service to the mission of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Sims was previously Special Assistant to the President and Director of White House Message Strategy under President Trump. In this role, he led the White House’s messaging operation, advising the President and senior officials on communications strategy. Sims spearheaded communications for some of the administration’s most notable accomplishments, including the successful passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Senate confirmations of numerous Cabinet secretaries.
In 2024, Sims was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representative to serve as a Commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
In the private sector, Sims has founded, served as CEO, and achieved successful exits in multiple companies. He has appeared on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, and ABC, and his opinions on national security, foreign policy, and current events have been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Newsweek, The National Interest, and numerous other publications. He is also a Senior Fellow in the America First Policy Institute's Center for American Security.
Mr. Sims graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a degree in Political Science and received an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging and informative, providing an inside view of the Trump administration. They appreciate the author's honest perspective on the presidency and the president himself. However, some readers feel the pacing is slow and the value for money is poor.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They describe it as an interesting read with little fluff. Readers appreciate the well-written content and entertainment value.
"...' feelings and observations about his experiences in the WH are worth telling, and constitutes an important historical record...." Read more
"...of what was going on inside the administration, and I read it with an open mind, not a negative bent;I'm not a Trump fan...." Read more
"...Just an okay read for me." Read more
"...It’s an easy read with little fluff but totally engaging...." Read more
Customers find the book insightful and informative about what's going on in the White House. They appreciate the detailed account of daily activities and find it a well-balanced account. The book provides an inside view of Trump's world and gives readers a good source of information about his arrogance.
"...his promises even with a staff in such disarray, this book is an invaluable record...." Read more
"...There are a lot of interesting stories (drama) in the book. 8) It was/is the old guard RNC employees against the Trump new-hire loyalists...." Read more
"...So, more details concerning President Trump but nothing earth shattering. Just an okay read for me." Read more
"...investigative methods, and Omarosa, while not untalented, is dissociated from reality and it's hard to distinguish her memory from the events...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's honest and positive portrayal of the Trump administration. They find it provides a nuanced portrait of the current presidency with an insider's details. The book makes them more sympathetic to Trump, even though they generally find him offensive. Many readers describe the book as a love letter to Donald Trump.
"...Author did good work in the small campaign and developed a personal relationship with the President that many AFTER the election who were brought in..." Read more
"...In sum, a well-balanced memoir that provides a nuanced portrait of the current presidency, with an insider's details of the leader's stengths and..." Read more
"...It paints the president as a quirky, but largely misunderstood, talented leader, and shows the "end is worth the means" mentality that seems to be..." Read more
"...The author absolutely supports the president -- even after basically being disavowed by him...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's honesty. They find it credible and a factual account of what goes on in the Trump administration.
"...It's highly readable, and it's clearly not hearsay. Is Sims a backstabber - of course, and the problem is that the WH is full of them...." Read more
"...Mr. Sims book made the players human and sympathetic and his brutal honesty about himself and his time there were a breath of fresh air...." Read more
"...Plus I live books. Started reading a few chapters. It seems truthfully. I am looking for some untruthful information." Read more
"This is one of the most honest books you will ever find about actual political experience. Sims has few axes to grind...." Read more
Customers find the book insightful and fair. They say it paints a great picture of day-to-day life on the presidency, with spectacular details.
"...of these...President Trump, as would be expected, is interested in architecture and design...." Read more
"...Gingrich is also eccentrically brilliant and Ryan is a policy wonk but "weak" unlike McConnell...." Read more
"...personal politics aside, I did find this book to be a very interesting look inside the doors of the White House...." Read more
"This book is a good look inside the cutthroat world of working for the POTUS...." Read more
Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written and easy to read, describing it as clear and unapologetic. Others describe it as bland, dull, and tedious.
"...My takeaway from this well-written and easy-flowing book follows: 1)..." Read more
"...Some of the President's persona including being boastful, talkative and confident are visible when we listen to him on TV...." Read more
"Although well written, the author glosses over his shortcomings, as well as defends the President while he's trashing him...." Read more
"...So in 2 1/2 days, I was consumed. It’s an easy read with little fluff but totally engaging...." Read more
Customers find the book boring and unsatisfying. They describe it as a waste of money, a saccharine account of his time in the White House, and an irritating read.
"Sure wish I would have read the reviews before I ordered this poor excuse of a book before it was even for sale...." Read more
"...So uncaring and hypocritical. But I do believe many of the gaffes of this current administration are exposed and explained here...." Read more
"...Book starts out boring and stays that way." Read more
"...but portray what every other rational person already knows - the ineptness, pettiness...." Read more
Customers find the book's pacing slow. They describe the author as dishonest, inept, and a terrible human being. The writing is bland and lacks depth, making it seem like self-promotion.
"...WH staff, i.e. the staff members who acted the most dishonestly, disingenuously, treacherously, and ineptly during Sim's tenure with the WH team...." Read more
"...I suspect many of the quotes are accurate, but the book is clearly agenda driven. The agenda is to make Cliff Sims look good...." Read more
"...So uncaring and hypocritical. But I do believe many of the gaffes of this current administration are exposed and explained here...." Read more
"...He draws unkind and contemptuous portraits of every Democrat he mentions, focusing more on Zeke Emanual’s hair than the man’s deep understanding of..." Read more
Reviews with images
Excellent inside look @ key players in the tRump White House and the chaos that ensues, fascinating!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2019Cliff Sims was a member of Trump's campaign team and then worked in the White House (WH) for over a year. He lasted a lot longer than many of the other original Trump campaign workers, in part because he was apparently better at staying out of the office rivalries that have decimated and distracted President Trump's staff during his first term in office. Ultimately, according to Sims, he was done-in by a nefarious John F. Kelly, who not only forced Sims to resign, but mendaciously torpedoed Sims’ attempt to accept a job offered by Secretary of State Pompeo to work on his staff.
This book appears to be Sims' attempt at publicly exposing those he feels to have been the "bad actors" on the WH staff, i.e. the staff members who acted the most dishonestly, disingenuously, treacherously, and ineptly during Sim's tenure with the WH team. So, even though Simms claims to be trying to turn the other cheek as a Christian, this book seems to me to be an attempt at revenge. Nevertheless, I feel that Sims' feelings and observations about his experiences in the WH are worth telling, and constitutes an important historical record. If what he claims is true, that Woodward's and Wolff's books are mainly full of fabricated quotes and incidents, then Sims' book is likely the best book so far about the inner workings of President Trump's first year-and-a-half in office.
Apparently, the media reports that some members of President Trump’s staff tried to derail his political agenda were often true. Sims doesn’t pull any punches in criticizing, with accompanying fascinating anecdotes, the staffers who he feels shouldn’t have ever been in the WH. These include:
Rob Porter- Lied about the spousal abuse allegations
Reince Priebus- Disloyal and incompetent; represented Republican National Committee (RNC) establishment
Madeleine Westerhout- Acted as a spy for certain staff cliques, including RNC loyalists
Katie Walsh- RNC establishment loyalist
Sean Spicer- Incompetent liar
Kellyanne Conway- Mercenary opportunist and huge leaker
Omarosa- Unhinged drama queen
Paula White- Evangelical charlatan in charge of Trumps Christian advisory board
Jim Acosta- Not a staffer, but a CNN grandstander who appeared to be using his WH press pool job for personal aggrandizement rather than in an honest effort to report the news
Mike Dubke- Incompetent Preibus ally
Michael Short- RNC stooge
Raj Shah- RNC groupie and Preibus ally
Lindsay Walters- RNC loyalist
John F. Kelly- The biggest villain in Sims’ book; described as an insecure, vindictive, dishonest, dishonorable, petty, paranoid, martinet who not only fired people on fabricated charges, but then tried to destroy their careers and reputations
Mercedes Schlapp- Self-promoting charlatan and Kelly ally
Joe Hagin, Zach Fuentes, Jordan Karem, Uttam Dhillon- Kelly’s evil minions
Interestingly, as far as I know, the only staffers on the list above still working at the WH are Westerhout and Schlapp.
Sims praises other staffers, cabinet members, and Trump loyalists, saying, again with copious anecdotes, that their efforts and motivations were more competent and sincere, including: Hope Hicks, Sarah Sanders, Johnny McEntee, Keith Schiller, Ben Carson, Steven Mnuchin, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Marc Short, Rick Dearborn, Dan Scavino, Stephen Miller, Andy Hemming, Jeff Sessions, Peter Navarro, the Secret Service, Anthony Scaramucci, Jason Miller, Steven Cheung, Andy Surabian, Kaelan Dorr, Stephanie Grisham, Steve Bannon (kind-of), Tony Sayegh, Josh Raffel, Justin Clark, Larry Kudlow, Brett O’Donnell, Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Matt Lloyd, and Andrew Giulianai.
One of Sims’ major complaints is that President Trump is most at fault for the drama and conflict in his WH staff. According to Sims, Trump took mainly a hands-off approach to selecting and managing the staff, and that’s why antagonists like Kelly were allowed to sow so much disharmony and disorder in the WH.
Ultimately, however, Sims’ book is about the majesty and magic of Trump’s election win and his attempts to fulfill ALL his campaign promises. As an inside look into how President Trump accomplished so many of his promises even with a staff in such disarray, this book is an invaluable record.
By the way, Mr. Sims, if you’re reading this, what you should have done when you walked out of Uttam Dhillon’s office after he informed you that you never had a security clearance is gone straight to whichever inspector general’s (IG) office has jurisdiction over the White House staff. Your IG complaint likely would have set-off a chain reaction that would have gotten Kelly and his corrupt compatriots ejected from the White House sooner than they eventually were.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2019I'm not going to go into a lot of elaborate details about what's in Cliff Sim's book as you can find that in other reviews.
This book offered a day by day account of what was going on inside the administration, and I read it with an open mind, not a negative bent;I'm not a Trump fan. I've read several books written about No. 45, plus I see what he does and hear what he says everyday, so I believe I have an accurate opinion about who and what the man is.
My takeaway from this well-written and easy-flowing book follows: 1) Mr. Sims is a southern conservative Christian who agreed with Trump and the Republican agenda and was honored to be asked to work on the campaign and later in the WH. 2) Due to his job working in the communications group--the messaging the WH and President gives to the American people--he became proximity close to the President and was "in the room when the roof caved in on more than one occasion." So he knows stuff--lots of stuff. 3) He shares stories about Trump up close and personal--WORTH READING JUST FOR THAT--but he does not bash or speak harshly of Trump. He actually likes him, but he sees his faults and addresses them. 4) John Kelly is not who you think he is. 5) There was/is no plan. WH runs on chaos. 6) Steve Bannon is everything you thought he was and worse. 7) The backstabbing and infighting and paranoia run rampant. There are a lot of interesting stories (drama) in the book. 8) It was/is the old guard RNC employees against the Trump new-hire loyalists. Two camps, maybe three, all at odds.
Three final notes: 1) Cliff Sims must have an amazing memory to have remembered every single word in every conversation with every person he encountered. 2) Working with a president who runs counter to Mr. Sim's strong religious beliefs must have been a challenge, and I was uncomfortable many times in the book because he chose to shelve his core beliefs for a promising career. And 3) I don't know why Trump would be upset with Cliff Sims for writing this tell-all book. The shenanigans perpetuated by the staff make Trump look tame in comparison. Well, that last sentence might be a stretch.
Mr. Sims is between a rock and a bigger rock. His ratings will suffer because Trumpians believe he is being disloyal to Trump (Trump wants loyalty but he doesn't give it BTW), and the anti-Trumpers were looking for ammunition to dislike him even more. If you are willing to put aside your bias and want to learn what the fly on the wall saw during his 500 days in the White House, you might want to read this book. It really is good.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2019Sure wish I would have read the reviews before I ordered this poor excuse of a book before it was even for sale. The impression I got was that poor President Trump was surrounded by vipers who ended up taking him down the tubes through no fault of his own. He, Trump, appeared to be an innocent bystander, trying to do the best job he could, while being attacked for no good reason. Maybe we were supposed to feel sorry for him, because he was under so much stress trying to figure out who he could trust. The author was so enamored by having access to the oval office that he lost site of what was important. He thought he had a very close relationship with Trump, but in the end, the President wouldn't even take his call. Hopefully, Sims will never try to write another book. I can't figure out how he got 2 1/2 stars. I gave him one just for the few facts that depicted some of the atrocities occurring in the White House. For 500 days, this devout Christian sold his soul by associating himself with corruption all around him, because he was so honored to be near the President on a daily basis. How sad. Sure hope he learned his lesson. I am too embarrassed to sign my name in case someone I know will find out I read it. Sims should have read a quality book such as the one written by James Comey before tricking readers into thinking they were getting the true picture of what was going on with our government.
Top reviews from other countries
RaymondReviewed in Canada on February 22, 20195.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
Do you want to know why things happened in the White House as it did in the first year of Donny's reign in America. It's all here, the back stabbing and planning against each other. Very interesting.
Sumit KumarReviewed in India on October 27, 20195.0 out of 5 stars Nest of snakes
Helps the reader to understand how team Trump functions, an insider view, must read for all trying to understand the functioning of this administration.
Mr. Victor R. DanielsReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 20195.0 out of 5 stars Probably the most balanced view of Trump you will read
Really enjoyed this book. Not sure why Trump had to disparage the author. He was clearly there and close to the action. This isn't an anti-Trump diatribe - it's a balanced book that tells it warts and all. A fascinating and entertaining book. I've read them all on Trump. I didn't expect I'd learn much, but this does give a different and hugely enjoyable perspective. Good job!
One person found this helpfulReport
M ClarkReviewed in Germany on February 8, 20194.0 out of 5 stars The most personal account yet about working in the Trump White House
This very personal and somewhat self-critical account of the author's time in the Trump White House provides the best insight into what is happening there. Although the book is very supportive of Trump and his policies and is very critical of those who are undermining him, I found it to be fascinating. Without intending to, the book describes what it is like to work in a chaotic office area for a boss that is not quite rational.
Kathy StewartReviewed in Australia on February 14, 20195.0 out of 5 stars The most balanced book on Trump I've read
Cliff Sims' book is outstanding for the honest and fair way he represents his experiences in the White House. His views are understandably subjective but he's given me the most balanced insight into the people and inner workings of the administration that I've read. Well worth a read.


