President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “con man” and told Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson that the United States would avoid a war with Iran to protect his legacy, according to the book “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump” by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. The authors report that Trump’s stance on Netanyahu’s conflict with Iran shifted after a meeting in the Situation Room where the Israeli leader presented his arguments.
What did Trump tell Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson?
During a joint meeting in the Oval Office, Trump expressed that a regional confrontation with Iran would destroy his legacy. According to the book, Trump also discussed the September 2024 Hezbollah pager attack, describing himself as both “fascinated and horrified” by the event. He detailed severe injuries to Musk and Carlson, including missing hands and severed genitals, stating one survivor “looked like a great white shark came and just took a chunk out of him.”
The authors noted that Trump expressed astonishment at the “indiscriminate nature” and “recklessness” of the attack. During the same meeting, Carlson criticized Trump for not attacking Netanyahu over the “slaughter in Gaza,” warning that the Israeli prime minister was pushing the U.S. into a war that could ruin the presidency. CNN reported that the term “con man,” which Trump used to describe Netanyahu, is among the harshest insults in his vocabulary.
How did tensions arise between Trump and JD Vance?
Internal friction occurred following a U.S. strike in Iran regarding the specific language used to describe the operation. According to the report, Trump became angry when Vice President JD Vance did not use the phrase “completely destroyed” to describe the impact on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump reportedly told aides that everyone should simply repeat his specific wording.
Vance told reporters he was unsure of the distinction between “severely damaged” and “destroyed,” though he noted the program had been significantly set back. The book states that Vance appeared worried about further escalation and attempted to suggest softening the speech, but Trump ended the discussion by stating, “I know what I’m doing.”
How was the Jeffrey Epstein affair managed?
In the summer of 2025, senior administration officials, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Vice President Vance, held crisis-management meetings in the Situation Room regarding the handling of Epstein materials. The meetings were prompted by fears of leaks and Trump’s previous ties to the convicted sex offender. While Trump reportedly wanted the matter to disappear from the agenda, his aides worked to formulate a response.
Vance pushed for the rapid release of materials to prevent Congress from forcing the administration’s hand. He also proposed that Tucker Carlson interview Ghislaine Maxwell in prison to clear Trump of wrongdoing. While the White House considered having Justice Department lawyers question Maxwell or potentially issuing a pardon, communications director Steven Cheung warned that a pardon would be a “public relations disaster.”
What other White House incidents were reported?
The book details several personal and diplomatic accounts from the administration. Special envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly attempted to build rapport with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, where Putin signed a drawing of “3+2″—shorthand for a territorial framework Witkoff had discussed to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Witkoff now displays the signed drawing in a black frame in his home.
Other accounts include Trump using superglue to attach gold decorations in the Oval Office to ensure his aesthetic preferences were met. He also reportedly insulted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, calling him a “pussy” for allegedly going “soft,” and compared his televised confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “better” television than his reality show, “The Apprentice.”
What could follow these internal tensions?
The reported friction regarding the wording of military strikes and the handling of sensitive legal materials suggests that future policy announcements may be subject to internal debate. The administration’s ability to present a unified front on international conflicts or legal crises could be impacted by these diverging views on communication and escalation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Trump avoid war with Iran?
According to the book, Trump told Musk and Carlson he would avoid a war because a regional confrontation would destroy his legacy. - What was the “3+2” drawing?
It was shorthand for a territorial framework discussed by Steve Witkoff with Vladimir Putin to stop the fighting in Ukraine. - What was JD Vance’s idea regarding Ghislaine Maxwell?
Vance suggested arranging an interview between Maxwell and Tucker Carlson to help clarify that Trump was not involved in wrongdoing.
Do you believe internal disagreements over official wording impact the credibility of government communications?
