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A new book by New York Times reporters describes how President Donald Trump views his 2024 victory as freeing him to test limits of presidential authority. The account covers internal discussions, White House renovations, and foreign policy moves during the first year of his current term.
ABC NewsA 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.
Trump initially allowed special envoy Ric Grenell to negotiate with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Rubio later argued that Maduro would delay talks until after Trump left office in 2029. After U.S. forces entered Venezuela and removed Maduro, Rubio spoke by phone with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, urging her to maintain stability and limit migration.
Rodríguez remains in charge of the country. Trump told the authors in a March 2026 interview that his interest in Venezuela dated to his ownership of the Miss Universe pageant.
The book describes alarm inside the administration over the release of files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles convened a crisis meeting in the Situation Room, and Vance suggested arranging an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell through Tucker Carlson.
The account has prompted questions about whether audio recordings were made inside a secure White House area.
During an appearance highlighting new flagpoles on the White House grounds, Trump told reporters he had once feared negative coverage but now felt unconstrained. He said, “You guys were after me. I was the hunted. And now I’m the hunter.” The president also repeated an anecdote from golfer Gary Player’s longtime caddy that described him as the most powerful figure in history.
China placed 10 American companies on an export control list and barred 46 others from government procurement projects. The steps follow a Pentagon decision to add Chinese firms to a list of entities accused of supporting Beijing's military.
news.sky.comPresident Donald Trump stated Sunday that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will resign, citing failures on immigration and energy policy. The comments coincide with reports of internal Labour Party pressure and a potential leadership challenge.
Washington ExaminerOfficials say work will start right away on the Reflecting Pool after recent vandalism and algae growth. The pool was recently repainted at a cost of about $13 million but continues to face peeling paint and green algae.