White House staff reportedly monitored Trump’s trash over surprising habit, book claims

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's late-night snacking habits reportedly created an unusual problem inside the White House, with staff eventually monitoring his trash after discovering that expensive silverware was sometimes ending up in the garbage.

The claim appears in 'Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump', an upcoming book by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.

The book, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at life inside Trump's White House, paints a picture of a president who frequently rearranged his living quarters, paid close attention to decor, and occasionally left aides scrambling to keep up with his decisions.

Donald Trump's nighttime habits reportedly created unexpected challenges

According to Haberman and Swan, Trump was known for late-night snacking, something that reportedly became a routine issue for White House employees.

"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 in an excerpt obtained by The Daily Mail.

The situation allegedly became more complicated when staff realized that other items were ending up in the trash as well.

"The staff had to begin monitoring the trash after it was discovered he was sometimes throwing out White House sterling silver utensils," the authors added.

The claim offers one of the more unusual anecdotes contained in the book and suggests that staff had to pay closer attention to everyday housekeeping than they initially expected.

Donald Trump reportedly transformed parts of the White House residence

The book also claims Trump took a hands-on approach to decorating and reorganizing his personal living space.

According to the authors, Melania Trump occupied the traditional White House master bedroom while the president used the room next door.

In the early weeks of the administration, Trump allegedly began moving items around the residence to suit his own preferences.

"In the early weeks of the new administration, items were spirited from the second-floor corridor into the President's bedroom," the book states.

The authors further claimed, "Sometimes Trump carried the objects in himself, rearranging things across the private quarters on a whim."

Staff reportedly tried to intervene at times, especially when items selected by the first lady were relocated.

"Once, when staff gently reminded the President that he was taking things from the Center Hall his wife had personally selected, he made clear he didn't care," the authors wrote.

According to the book, Trump's decorating choices occasionally put staff in a difficult position as they tried to balance the preferences of both the president and the first lady.

Melania Trump and Donald Trump reportedly had different visions for the White House

Haberman and Swan claim White House aides often felt trapped between competing priorities.

The authors wrote that Trump "seemed almost to be competing with her," while staff reportedly felt "caught between the two Trumps."

Because of the frequent changes, aides allegedly developed a system for replacing missing items. New pieces would reportedly be photographed and sent to Melania Trump for approval before being added to the residence.

The book suggests that Trump's interest in decorating became so intense that some staff members hoped the first lady would take a more active role in overseeing decisions.

"Trump's obsessive focus on interior decorating made the staff yearn for the First Lady to return and hopefully rein him in," Haberman and Swan wrote.

White House renovation plans reportedly became another source of tension

The reported disagreements were not limited to furniture and room layouts.

According to the book, Melania Trump was unhappy when discussions began about changes to the White House Rose Garden.

The authors claim an eventual compromise was reached in which the grass would be paved over while the rose bushes would remain intact.

The first lady also reportedly expressed concerns about the size and location of Trump's proposed White House ballroom.

As a result, aides allegedly found themselves trying to satisfy two very different visions for the future of the presidential residence.