President Donald Trump is reportedly fuming over a new book by veteran journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan that offers an unusually intimate portrait of life inside the White House, alleging everything from late-night snacking habits to unusual maintenance issues in the presidential residence. According to people familiar with Trump's reaction, the president has rejected several of the book's most personal claims, privately insisting they are false and defamatory.
The allegations appear in Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, a book that examines the inner workings of Trump's second administration through interviews with current and former officials. While much of the book focuses on decision-making at the highest levels of government, some of its most widely discussed passages center on the president's private routines rather than his public policies.
Among the book's most talked-about claims is its depiction of Trump's late-night eating habits. Haberman and Swan write that White House staff regularly encountered discarded food packaging after the president finished evening snacks.
"A nighttime snacker, the president would frequently leave an array of empty potato chip bags, Starbucks wrappers, and ice cream cartons in the trash, or on the floor," the authors wrote.
According to the book, staff also became more attentive to discarded trash after allegedly discovering that White House sterling silver utensils had been thrown away. The authors present the incidents as examples of behind-the-scenes challenges faced by residence employees responsible for maintaining the executive mansion.
The publication has reportedly drawn an angry response from Trump. Citing people familiar with his reaction, Zeteo reported that the president repeatedly denied the allegations after learning of the book's contents.
A senior Trump appointee told the outlet the stories made the president look "so f------ gross" and said Trump repeatedly insisted, "I don't do that!" while dismissing the allegations as "libel."
The book also recounts claims involving the president's private bathroom inside the White House residence. According to Haberman and Swan, staff members grew concerned after carpeting installed near the shower repeatedly became soaked.
The authors write that employees worried persistent moisture beneath the carpet could eventually create mold problems. Rather than replacing the flooring, staff allegedly rotated smaller matching carpet sections so wet portions could dry without changing the room's appearance. Haberman and Swan add that workers were "never quite sure why" the area repeatedly became saturated, offering no further explanation for the recurring issue.
Beyond the personal anecdotes, Regime Change also examines the administration's internal operations during several major policy decisions. According to the authors, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were excluded from key discussions before military action involving Iran despite the potential economic consequences. The book further alleges that Trump considered issuing broad preemptive pardons before leaving office, including for individuals working near the Oval Office.
Speaking with MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell, Swan said transparency has been a defining feature of the current administration's public messaging. Yet much of the attention surrounding the book has shifted toward its descriptions of daily life inside the White House instead of its reporting on national security or government decision-making.
