The book also says Trump told Carlson, “I don’t think there’s ever been an American president as powerful as I am.” Carlson, according to the authors, responded that the only thing that could wreck that position was a war with Iran.
Haberman and Swan write that Trump later attacked Iran on 28 February of this year. An agreement ending the war was signed earlier this week, according to the book’s account.
Another Account Involving Israel’s Pager Attack
The book also describes Trump discussing Israel’s 2024 exploding-pager operation targeting Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon. Hezbollah is backed by Iran.
According to the authors, Trump spoke at length about images he said he had seen showing severe injuries from the attack. The account says he appeared both disturbed by the damage and fascinated by the operation’s method and impact.
The book portrays Musk as focused on a golden pager that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had presented to Trump. Carlson, who has been critical of Israel and the Iran war, is presented as a key source of insight into the Oval Office exchange.
Haberman and Swan state that quoted dialogue in the book reflects personal knowledge of the words and situations described.
Why This Matters
The claims arrive amid continued scrutiny of Trump’s foreign policy decision-making and the political pressure surrounding US involvement in the Middle East. Questions about Iran, Israel and regional conflict carry consequences beyond Washington, including energy prices, defense spending, global markets and business confidence.
The excerpts released so far suggest Regime Change will focus not only on major policy choices, but also on the private conversations and personal dynamics behind them. For readers following US politics, the book adds another account of how advice, influence and power moved through Trump’s inner circle.
As more excerpts emerge, the central question will be how these private accounts compare with the public record of decisions made in office.