Book Examines Trump's Second-Term Executive Power Approach

A new book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan portrays President Donald Trump as more willing to challenge institutional norms in his second term than during his first. The volume, titled “Regime Change,” draws on interviews and observations from the first year after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

It argues that avoiding the constraints he faced after 2020 has left him less restrained.

The authors recount Trump asking aides whether Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be better positioned to succeed him. Some donors favored Rubio, while aides noted stronger personal chemistry between Trump and Rubio than between Trump and Vance.

Trump also expressed admiration for Vance’s performance in television interviews and for Rubio’s background as the son of Cuban immigrants. Rubio and Vance are described as remaining on friendly terms, with Rubio offering to campaign alongside Vance after a 2024 controversy.

The book states that the president and first lady are the first first couple since Richard and Pat Nixon to sleep in separate bedrooms. Melania Trump occupies the traditional master bedroom while the president uses an adjacent room. Trump moved several gold-leaf items into his bedroom and placed a mirror from the Queen’s Bedroom on the Colonnade for visitor photographs.

The first lady had opposed paving part of the Rose Garden, and the surrounding grass was covered while the roses remained. The East Wing was later demolished to accommodate a $400 million ballroom addition.