Kathmandu— Former President Donald Trump governed with unrestrained power during his second term, shattering longstanding norms and exhibiting increasingly erratic behavior, according to a new book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swift. *Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump* details instances of cruelty under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, tariff mayhem, obstruction of justice related to the Epstein Files, and the lethal deployment of ICE agents within US cities. The authors, who conducted over 1000 interviews for their research, portray a president unconstrained by traditional limits, openly pressuring institutions from tech companies to universities into alignment with his agenda.

Erosion of Institutional Norms

The book highlights Trump’s systematic bending and breaking of established institutional boundaries. According to Haberman and Swift, no modern President has achieved such rapid compliance from their party in Congress as Trump did in 2025. They write that he openly leveraged the power of his office to pressure major pillars of civil society—including tech companies, news organizations, law firms, and universities—into alignment with his goals.

The authors detail a pattern of behavior where Trump prioritized personal enrichment, transforming the White House into a vehicle for massive self-dealing. This included brazen defiance of federal judicial decisions and weaponizing the justice system against perceived enemies.

Escalating Recklessness and International Crisis

The book details Trump’s increasingly reckless actions on both domestic and international fronts. These include the unleashing of ICE and Border Patrol agents within US cities, extrajudicial executions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, and threats to the sovereignty of Canada and Greenland.

A particularly dangerous escalation detailed in *Regime Change* is Trump's handling of Iran, which led to disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and a surge in inflation. This occurred despite warnings from advisors like Tucker Carlson and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine.

Trump’s View of Power

Haberman and Swift recount an exchange with Trump where he displayed a document arguing his power surpassed that of historical leaders like Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Stalin, Mao, and Hitler. The document, presented to him during an event honoring golfer Gary Player, claimed his global reach exceeded theirs.

The authors note that the supposed “historian” who authored the document was actually Player’s longtime caddy, a detail Trump seemingly overlooked when proudly sharing it on Truth Social. During another interview, Trump stated that the only limit to his power was “my own morality,” and later admitted he decided to use the White House to increase his wealth because “I found out that nobody cared.”

Haberman and Swift’s book offers a detailed account of Trump's second term, painting a picture of a presidency marked by unchecked power and disregard for established norms. The authors suggest this pattern is likely to continue shaping the political landscape.

(With inputs from CounterPunch)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.