On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office four years after leaving power following his defeat to Joe Biden and the political fallout from the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to the account detailed in the book “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump,” that day marked the beginning of a presidency determined to reshape the country and redefine the limits of executive power.
The book, written by Margaret Haberman and Jonathan Swan of The New York Times, examines the inner workings of Trump’s second administration through the first 14 months of his return to office. The authors base their reporting on information from more than 1,000 official and anonymous sources within the White House, along with a face-to-face interview with Trump. The publication has drawn widespread attention in the United States, with the journalists appearing across major media platforms to discuss their reporting.
“Regime Change” portrays a White House where political decisions, personal relationships and internal conflicts unfold behind closed doors. Haberman said during a presentation in Washington that the journalists were documenting “the most consequential year of an American presidency in our lifetime” and watching presidential power being used in ways they had not previously seen.
The book describes a different Trump from the businessman who entered the White House in 2017. According to the authors, the president returned in 2025 more isolated, more distrustful and focused on loyalty after the legal battles and investigations that followed his first term. His circle of advisers became smaller, with a greater emphasis on personal allegiance.
One of the first actions of Trump’s second term highlighted in the book was his decision to pardon hundreds of his supporters who had participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Steve Bannon, a key figure in the MAGA movement, described the decision as revealing “the pure Trump,” according to the account.
Among the figures central to the book’s depiction of the administration is Natalie Harp, Trump’s executive assistant and one of his closest aides. The authors describe her as responsible for posting some of Trump’s messages on Truth Social and preparing artificial intelligence-generated images for his account. Known among White House staff as the “portable printer,” Harp often accompanied Trump and provided him with favorable news reports and social media reactions.
The book says Harp’s loyalty to Trump is personal as well as political. She joined his team in 2022 after working as a presenter for the conservative network One America News Network and has said Trump helped save her life by approving access to experimental medical treatments. According to the authors, she remains one of the president’s most trusted advisers.
Another major figure in the book is Stephen Miller, described by the authors as one of the most influential officials in the administration. Known as “the grievance keeper,” Miller is portrayed as a driving force behind Trump’s immigration policies and as an adviser who encourages the president to push further on his agenda.
The authors recount an episode in which Trump discussed past grievances during a meeting in the Oval Office and sought action against officials involved in investigations related to his first presidency. According to the book, Miller identified one official who had publicly supported the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and initiated an investigation against him.
The book also describes Trump’s focus on his place in history. During an interview with the authors in March 2026, Trump presented a document comparing him with major historical figures, including Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Alexander the Great and Napoleon. According to the authors, Trump focused on the scale of power and global influence attributed to these figures.
Foreign policy is another major theme in the book. The authors describe Trump’s confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where Trump reportedly expressed frustration over his inability to quickly end the war in Ukraine. The book also recounts Trump’s reaction to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and his discussions with advisers about regional control following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The authors further describe internal debates over Iran, including Trump’s decision to support military action despite warnings from senior officials. They also detail discussions surrounding the release of Jeffrey Epstein investigation files, which reportedly caused concern among White House officials because of potential political consequences.
The book portrays a White House increasingly centralized around a small group of advisers, with Trump limiting travel and reducing the number of officials involved in major decisions. Haberman and Swan write that many senior officials were unaware of key developments until they were publicly revealed.
Trump’s interest in shaping his physical surroundings is another recurring element in the book. The authors describe his involvement in White House decoration, renovation projects and plans for new structures. One scene recounts Trump personally attaching gold decorations to a fireplace mantel in the Oval Office.
The book concludes with Trump’s own assessment of his political journey. In his interview with the journalists, he cited his legal battles, political survival and election victory as evidence of his ability to overcome challenges. “I always win,” he said, according to the account.
Through its reporting, “Regime Change” presents a detailed account of the first months of Trump’s second presidency, focusing on how power is exercised inside the White House and how the president’s efforts to define his legacy have shaped his administration.
