The return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office on January 20, 2025, marked a significant turning point in his political career. Four years after his 2021 departure, following his defeat by Joe Biden and the January 6 Capitol unrest, Trump re-entered the presidency with a distinct agenda. On his first day back, he issued several directives, notably pardoning hundreds of his supporters involved in the 2021 Capitol events, a move that Steve Bannon, a key figure in the MAGA movement, reportedly hailed as showcasing "pure Trump."
This period is extensively chronicled in the book Regime Change: Inside Donald Trump's Imperial Presidency, co-authored by The New York Times journalists Margaret Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The book, which has garnered considerable attention in the United States, draws from over a thousand official and anonymous White House sources, alongside a direct interview with Trump. Haberman noted during a Washington book presentation that they were documenting "the most momentous year of an American presidency in our lifetime," observing presidential power being wielded in unprecedented ways. The authors describe events reminiscent of a political drama, complete with palace intrigue and accusations, unfolding within the world's leading power.
A Transformed President and His Loyal Circle
Trump's second term reveals a different leader from the one who first entered the White House in 2017. This time, he appears more isolated, distrustful, and driven by a desire for retribution following legal challenges from his first term. His advisory team has been significantly streamlined, demanding an almost unwavering loyalty. A key litmus test for his advisors is their affirmation that the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden, was fraudulent and that he was the rightful winner. Throughout these months, Trump has demonstrated an uninhibited approach to foreign policy, pushing the boundaries of presidential power beyond his predecessors, all in pursuit of a lasting historical impact.
Among his closest confidantes is Natalie Harp, his sole executive assistant. Harp is responsible for managing Trump's Truth Social account, including creating AI-generated images, such as a controversial xenophobic depiction of the Obamas. Known as "the portable printer" among White House staff, the 34-year-old blonde often accompanies Trump, even late into the night, as he crafts provocative social media posts. Before his return to the Oval Office, she would join him on the golf course, equipped with a small printer and laptop to read him flattering articles and positive news. Harp, a former presenter for the far-right One America News Network, joined Trump's team in 2022. She credits him with saving her life by approving experimental treatments for her cancer, leading to her profound devotion.
Haberman and Swan portray the Trump White House as a "decadent court," with a "Caesarist government" led by a president driven by vengeance and a craving for adulation.
Stephen Miller: The Enforcer
Stephen Miller stands out as another influential and zealous advisor. Unlike the first term, where officials often set boundaries, Miller and others actively encourage Trump to push limits. Known as "the grievance guardian," Miller has amassed significant power, removing legal obstacles for Trump's policies. The book identifies him as the architect of the administration's stringent immigration policies, allegedly advocating for the suspension of habeas corpus for immigrants. Miller is also depicted as an instrument for Trump's retaliation against his critics.
The book recounts an incident where, after imposing global tariffs, Trump convened a meeting to issue presidential orders aimed at investigating former high-ranking officials from the Joe Biden administration who had previously investigated or accused him. During this Oval Office meeting, Trump reflected on past grievances, asking about an administration lawyer who had affirmed the fairness of the 2020 elections. Miller, quick to anticipate the president's wishes, promptly identified the official and initiated an investigation without a direct order, effectively deploying federal resources against an individual whose only perceived offense was validating the 2020 election results.
A Quest for Historical Grandeur
In an interview conducted in mid-March to conclude their book, Haberman and Swan asked Trump if he considered himself the most powerful man in history. Without hesitation, Trump requested Natalie Harp to retrieve a document. He then presented the journalists with a letter that compared him to historical figures. He read aloud, "Donald Trump is, without a doubt, the most powerful man the planet has ever known."
The list of historical figures included Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Roman Caesars, William the Conqueror, and Napoleon. Trump proudly displayed this list, which he claimed was compiled by a "presidential historian," calling them "the top ten." He dismissed the moral implications of some figures' genocidal past, focusing solely on their notoriety and power. Trump asserted that unlike these historical leaders, whose power was localized, his influence was global. He recounted learning about this historical comparison during a golf game with Gary Player, who attributed the thesis to an academic who turned out to be an amateur historian and caddie.
Unrestricted Power and Global Impact
Haberman and Swan's work chronicles a tumultuous period, illustrating how Trump has exercised power with minimal constraints, altering the nature of the presidency and challenging established norms. This era is characterized by Trump's reshaping of the post-World War II international order, his aggressive trade policies through tariffs, a massive deportation campaign, a military strike in Venezuela to apprehend Nicolás Maduro, and involvement in an ongoing conflict in Iran. These actions, the authors note, have often bypassed congressional oversight, blurring the separation of powers and leading to the replacement of independent officials with private attorneys.
The Epstein Files Controversy
Another revealing episode in the book details the White House's intense concern over the declassification of Jeffrey Epstein's files. The president's inner circle reportedly panicked over the potential repercussions of Congress's order to release all secret documents related to the investigation of the financier accused of pedophilia and sex trafficking. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles convened a meeting in the Situation Room, typically reserved for national security crises. Polls indicated that the Epstein case was negatively impacting the MAGA base, prompting Vice President JD Vance to declare it a "huge problem."
The meeting included the FBI Director, the Attorney General, the Communications Director, and lawyers who had previously defended Trump. They explored various options, including offering Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate, a pardon in exchange for congressional testimony. However, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung argued that pardoning Maxwell, a "child trafficker," would create a significant public relations crisis. A subsequent Situation Room meeting discussed an accusation from an Epstein network victim detailing Trump's alleged fetishistic inclination towards nipples. The debate over whether to permit the release of this document lasted hours, with one official describing the discussion in the crisis room—where Barack Obama had years earlier monitored the operation to eliminate Bin Laden—as "surreal."
Trump has largely retreated within the White House, reducing his travel and rarely visiting his Mar-a-Lago residence for weekend golf. His administration is effectively run by a small group of individuals, with other high-ranking officials often unaware of the decisions being made behind the Oval Office doors. Haberman refutes Trump's claim of having the "most transparent administration in history," stating that they are "incredibly good at keeping secrets." She cites the Iran negotiations as an example, where no senior military, intelligence, Pentagon, or State Department official saw any documents regarding the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran until Vice President JD Vance produced it. Swan emphasizes that while Trump is less concerned with domestic politics than in his first term, his primary motivation, as evident from their Oval Office interview, is to secure his place as a historical figure.
A Confrontation with Zelensky
The book also highlights a notable confrontation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Trump, frustrated by his unfulfilled promise to resolve the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, delivered an unusual reprimand to Zelensky. Far from being embarrassed, Trump later told his advisors that it was "great television," even better than The Apprentice. In another high-level meeting, he admitted, "I'm not a big fan of Ukraine, except for their women. They keep winning Miss Universe." Trump, a former owner and promoter of the beauty pageant, often boasted about the women who participated.