‘Nearly killed ourselves’ writing book as Trump health remained guarded in WH: Maggie Haberman
WASHINGTON, DC: Reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan say getting information out of Donald Trump's White House was far harder than many people realize, revealing that they "nearly killed" themselves while reporting their new book, 'Regime Change.'
Speaking about the book ahead of its release on Tuesday, June 23, the veteran journalists detailed the obstacles they faced while trying to uncover what was happening behind closed doors during Trump's second term.
Maggie Haberman discusses Trump's secretive health
According to Haberman, Trump's health has long been one of the most tightly guarded subjects around him.
"His health has always been a very specific lockbox for him, going back decades," she said, explaining that Trump views illness as a sign of weakness and that those around him are highly protective of any information related to his medical condition.
Haberman noted that obtaining details about the president's health has become increasingly difficult over the years. "So the number of people who actually know what is happening with his health, they've provided less and less information," she said.
The journalist added that despite occasional disclosures, many questions remain unanswered, including details surrounding specialists who have reportedly treated the president.
She suggested that the level of transparency has steadily declined since Trump's first term. The book also describes visible signs of aging that have drawn public attention, including moments of fatigue, drowsiness at events, and reports of bruising on his hands.
However, Haberman stressed that gaining reliable information about the president's overall health remains one of the biggest reporting challenges.
Jonathan Swan details White House secrecy
Jonathan Swan argued that Trump's reputation for being highly accessible publicly does not match the reality behind the scenes.
"There's a reason that there hasn't been a ton of inside-the-room reporting since last year," Swan said. "It's because it's really hard."
He described an administration run by a very small inner circle, where even senior officials are sometimes left out of major discussions.
As an example, Swan pointed to a recent memorandum involving Iran, saying many top officials across the government had not seen the document before it became public.
"The tiniest inner circle had seen it," he said, adding that some agencies were effectively trying to understand the negotiations from the outside.
New book reveals Trump's White House habits
Beyond policy decisions, 'Regime Change' also offers a glimpse into Trump's personal habits and management style.
According to the authors, the president often stayed up through the night posting on social media and watching television before sleeping late into the morning.
The book also describes Trump's ongoing interest in redesigning his surroundings, including efforts to add gold decorative features throughout the White House.
Haberman and Swan said Trump himself often provided some of the most revealing moments.
In one of the book's more unusual anecdotes, Trump reportedly recounted being compared to a number of historical figures during a conversation with the authors.
According to 'Regime Change,' the president said that “a historian” had likened him to Alexander the Great, the Caesars, William the Conqueror, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Tamerlane, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong, and Joseph Stalin.
The authors later wrote that the individual in question turned out to be golfer Gary Player's caddie. During a lengthy interview featured in the book, the president reportedly discussed his influence and power while comparing modern leaders with historical figures.
The conversation also wandered across a range of topics, illustrating the challenge reporters faced when trying to focus on a single issue.
Authors detail struggles writing Trump book
Despite the difficulties, both reporters said they are proud of the final product. "We really nearly killed ourselves during this book," Haberman said
She explained that their goal was not simply to document daily headlines but to capture the larger story of Trump's return to power and the small group of people who helped shape his administration.
The authors acknowledged that many stories never made it into the book because they could not be independently confirmed. Even so, they believe 'Regime Change' offers one of the most detailed looks yet at the inner workings of Trump's second presidency.
