President Donald Trump and his team were more focused on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal than they publicly acknowledged, according to a forthcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The book, titled “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump,” is set to be published in two weeks.
Based on three years of reporting, the authors reveal that Trump and White House officials repeatedly convened in the Situation Room to address the crisis related to Epstein, despite efforts to dismiss it as old news. The book notes that Vice President JD Vance argued for preemptively releasing allegations about Trump, believing they would surface regardless of administration actions. Others in the room, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, dismissed Vance’s concerns as conspiracy theorizing.
The book also details internal discussions about whether Trump should pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Communications Director Steven Cheung warned that pardoning Maxwell would pose a PR problem. Trump reportedly asked his attorney general to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Epstein, a move almost never approved, prompting a heated exchange with FBI officials, including Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino.
Additional revelations include Trump’s public and private reactions to the scandal. While he publicly dismissed the controversy as a Democrat-led “hoax,” insiders say he privately expressed frustration. The president also faced pressure from aides and pollsters, who indicated that the Epstein files were a significant concern among voters. Despite this, Trump resisted releasing the documents, citing their graphic content.
The book further notes that discussions about Epstein’s crimes drew attention from figures like Bill Gates, who testified before Congress about his own interactions with Epstein. Gates acknowledged poor judgment in associating with Epstein but denied knowledge of his crimes. The publication of the book is expected to intensify scrutiny of Trump’s handling of the scandal and internal White House debates.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
