On Friday's New Day, CNN's Alisyn Camerota set up Michael Douglas to sing the praises of the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran. Camerota asked, "This week was the historic deal with Iran that...reportedly, will cut down on nuclear proliferation. Are you convinced by this deal?" Douglas replied by going after the critics of the deal: "I think it's just so presumptuous of everybody to jump on this...negatively. I see the positive aspects of it." [video below]
The anchor then sought the actor's take on the 2016 presidential race. After complimenting Donald Trump, Douglas endorsed Hillary Clinton: "I'm a big, big fan of Hillary Clinton's. I've admired her since she first came into the White House as the President's wife, and...the efforts that she made on health care way back when...it will be interesting to see, but I support Hillary."
Camerota led into the nuclear deal issue by noting her guest's activism for nuclear disarmament: "I've also heard you say that one thing that you would do...if you had, sort of, a magic wand, is about nuclear weapons." Douglas responded, in part, that "that's been my issue – probably going back to The China Syndrome....I was made a Messenger of Peace by Kofi Annan at the United Nations in 1998, and...worked with them and other organizations."
The CNN journalist followed up with her "are you convinced by this deal" question. After rebuking the detractors of the deal, the actor added that he has "asked for a long time, well, what's the choice? And if you want to continue to say sanctions, sanctions, as Iran gets closer and closer to a nuclear weapon – I don't know if that's the answer...I'm a bit of a diplomat with the United Nations, and I always feel that...having some kind of dialogue is better than none at all."
Camerota then asked about the presidential race in general, before specifically asking about the Democratic candidates: "We talked about some of your other roles, and you memorably played The American President. How closely are you following the current presidential election?" Douglas noted that he knows "Mr. Trump personally. I enjoy him. He's a funny guy. He's got a great self-deprecating sense of humor." The anchor was surprised by this answer, and replied, "Does he? Because he seems – kind of a self-aggrandizing sense of humor at times." Moments later, the actor gushed that he's a "big, big fan of Hillary Clinton's."
The transcript of the relevant portion of the Michael Douglas interview from Friday's New Day on CNN:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: I've also heard you say that one thing that you would do – I mean, if you had, sort of, a magic wand, is about nuclear weapons.
[CNN Graphic: "Douglas: I Would 'Eliminate' Nuclear Weapons"]
MICHAEL DOUGLAS, ACTOR, "ANT-MAN": Well, they always say, if you had a wish – and if you were small – what would you do? And I – I do try to slide my message in there – and I would try to eliminate the world of nuclear weapons. That's been my issue – probably going – going back to 'The China Syndrome,' which is a picture that I did about a possible – close to a meltdown of a nuclear power plant. And that was when I first learned a little bit about the half-life of plutonium, and just how poisonous and how incredibly dangerous and – and just earth-destroying these – these weapons are. I was made a Messenger of Peace by Kofi Annan at the United Nations in 1998, and – you know, worked with them and – and other organizations.
[CNN Graphic: "Michael Douglas On Iran Deal"]
CAMEROTA: This week was the historic deal with Iran that – I mean, reportedly, will cut down on nuclear proliferation. Are you convinced by this deal?
DOUGLAS: Well, I think it's just so presumptuous of everybody to jump on this – certainly, negatively. I see the positive aspects of it, and I think it's going to be – you know, closely investigated and reviewed by Congress – and we'll see.
But I constantly have asked for a long time, well, what's the choice? And if you want to continue to say sanctions, sanctions, as Iran gets closer and closer to a nuclear weapon – I don't know if that's the answer. So, my feeling always is – and, you know, I'm a bit of a diplomat with the United Nations, and I always feel that dialogue – you know, having some kind of dialogue is better than none at all.
CAMEROTA: We talked about some of your other roles, and you memorably played 'The American President.' How closely are you following the current presidential election?
DOUGLAS: Well, it's pretty early on. You know, it gets – it gets pretty exhausting. But I'm getting a kick out of the Donald. (Camerota laughs) I know Mr. Trump personally. I enjoy him. He's a funny guy. He's got a great self-deprecating sense of humor.
[CNN Graphic: "Douglas: 'Getting A Kick' Out Of Trump; Douglas On Trump: 'He's A Funny Guy'"]
CAMEROTA: Does he?
DOUGLAS: Yeah, he can-
CAMEROTA: Because he seems – kind of a self-aggrandizing sense of humor at times.
DOUGLAS: Well, you know, that's his – his branding – should we say, his posture. But I found him as somebody who can laugh at himself to a degree.
CAMEROTA: (laughs) Do you have a favorite on the Democratic side?
[CNN Graphic: "Douglas: 'Big Fan' Of Hillary Clinton"]
DOUGLAS: Well, I'm a big, big fan of Hillary Clinton's. I've admired her since she first came into the White House as – as the President's wife, and the issues – the efforts that she made on health care way back when. And so, I mean, it's – it will be interesting to see, but I support Hillary.
