President Donald Trump over the weekend fired a salvo at New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman over a new book that’s led to some startling revelations about his return to the White House.
The president said he had a “very quick and boring briefing” about “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump,” which she co-authored with fellow Times reporter Jonathan Swan.
“It is mostly made up, Fake News, largely fiction, as have been most of the things she has written about me for so many years,” he wrote on Truth Social. “She is a third rate writer and intellect, who has made a first rate income because of your favorite President, ME.”
Trump, who has a long history of bestowing rivals and critics with insulting nicknames, typically calls Haberman “Maggot Hagerman.”
He tried to do so again in his weekend rant, but botched it.
On first reference, he called her “Magot Hagerman.” A few sentences later, he landed on “Margot.”
Then, for good measure, he added: “And Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon!!!” before closing with his own name, in all-caps: “President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
He did not attack Swan in the message:
The new book contains a number of revelations, including details on a meeting held by senior Trump officials ― without the president ― in the White House Situation Room over the fallout on the files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was once a close friend of Trump.
The book also details how trillionaire Elon Musk essentially became “co-president” for four months after spending piles of cash to help Trump in the 2025 election.
And it reveals how the Trump White House considered suspending habeas corpus, a fundamental constitutional right that prevents the government from detaining people indefinitely without a formal charge.