Key facts
- Authors Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan detail their reporting process for the new book 'Regime Change' about Donald Trump's potential second term.
- They describe the Trump administration as exceptionally good at keeping secrets, particularly concerning the president's health.
- Information on Trump's health has been tightly controlled, with limited details available even to specialists.
- The book explores how Trump's administration prepared for his return to power and his use of presidential authority.
- Authors faced significant challenges in obtaining inside information, even for crucial documents like the Iran Memorandum of Understanding.
Authors Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan discuss the challenges and methods behind their new book, 'Regime Change,' which focuses on Donald Trump's potential second term and his use of presidential power. They highlight the administration's remarkable ability to maintain secrecy, particularly regarding Trump's health, which they describe as a long-standing 'lockbox' due to his perception of illness as weakness.
Haberman noted that information on Trump's health has become increasingly scarce, with details about specialist visits remaining undisclosed. She recalled 2018 as the last time substantial health information was publicly available and pointed to the lack of transparency regarding his condition during COVID-19 in 2020. The authors suggest that significant health issues are unlikely to be revealed before the end of any potential term.
Swan emphasized the difficulty of reporting from within the administration, describing it as 'really fucking hard' and refuting Trump's claims of transparency. He cited the example of the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, where even senior officials within the US government had limited access to the document before its public announcement. This secrecy extended to critical meetings concerning potential military actions against Iran, where key figures like the Treasury and Energy Secretaries were reportedly informed only a day prior.
The book also delves into the chaotic nature of the White House, detailing Trump's work habits, his hoarding of documents, and his persistent efforts to remodel his surroundings. Haberman drew a parallel between Trump's current ambitions and his past projects in New York, such as the Wollman Rink, suggesting a long-standing pattern of seeking to embed his name and legacy.
Despite the difficulties, Haberman and Swan expressed pride in 'Regime Change,' aiming to provide a deeper and richer account of the period than daily news cycles typically allow. They focused on Trump's return, his 'unprecedented' use of presidential power, and the preparation by a small group for this event.