Donald Trump Attacks NYT Reporter Over Book, Calls it 'Fake News'

Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on a new book by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, calling it "mostly made up, Fake News, largely fiction" after it revealed that he leaves piles of chip bags, ice cream cartons and Starbucks wrappers on his White House bedroom floor.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Based on a very quick and boring briefing concerning the Magot Hagerman book about me, 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. She is a third rate writer and intellect, who has made a first rate income because of your favorite President, ME."

He added: "REMEMBER, I WON THE ELECTION, BIG — ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, THE POPULAR VOTE, 86% of the Counties… And they don't have the audio tapes that they imply they have. Just another Margot Con Job!"

'Regime Change' details 'gross' bedroom habits

The book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," has triggered what sources describe as an extraordinary personal meltdown from the 80-year-old president, one so severe that he has reportedly imposed a blanket ban on administration staff speaking publicly about it.

According to the book, Trump "leaves huge amounts of trash in his bedroom because of all the snacks he eats." Haberman and Swan write that as a habitual nighttime snacker, the president would routinely leave behind empty potato chip bags, Starbucks wrappers and ice cream cartons either in the trash or scattered on the floor.

White House staff were eventually forced to begin actively monitoring the trash cans near the president's bedroom after discovering he was inadvertently throwing out White House sterling silver utensils along with his snack packaging.

Trump 'genuinely triggered'

According to Zeteo reporter Asawin Suebsaeng, the book has "genuinely triggered" Trump. One senior Trump appointee told Suebsaeng: "It makes him look so f—ing gross. The US president sees everything, and he knows about the trash and bathroom sections, and thinks it's complete bullshit that it got published."

Beyond the bedroom floor, the book also delves into Trump's bathroom arrangements. The portion of carpet nearest the shower was frequently found to be soaked through, leaving staff uncertain as to why, though they were worried about mould developing underneath.

Trump has reportedly been going around privately insisting, "I don't do that!" and has characterised the claims as "libel." However, Suebsaeng reported that some aides have privately thought to themselves: "Uh... yeah, you do."

The snack scandal is only the latest fallout from what has been a bruising week for the White House since "Regime Change" hit shelves. Months before the book's release, Trump had ordered a sweeping leak hunt to identify Haberman and Swan's sources inside his administration. The effort ultimately stalled out, largely because too many of the senior officials tasked with finding the leakers were themselves among those leaking.