What's happened
Trump’s inner circle is described in a new book excerpt as Murdoch’s dinner remarks show a rare moment of warmth toward Rubio and caution toward Vance. The narrative draws a sharp line between old alliances and ongoing tensions, with White House aides worried about leaks from the Situation Room and the implications for the 2028 race.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Trump’s circle is portrayed as pragmatically calculating about 2028, with Murdoch privately favoring Rubio and cautioning about Vance. This highlights how media influence and political ambition intersect within a high-stakes power network.
- The mention of potential audio recordings in the Situation Room underscores risk of leaks changing the administration’s public narrative and its perception among voters.
- The timing matters: a forthcoming book sets off renewed scrutiny of private conversations, potentially shaping debates about national security disclosures and political loyalties ahead of the next cycle.
- Readers should monitor how disclosures might affect Trump’s coalition, donor confidence, and media strategy as 2028 approaches.
How we got here
The Axios/Independent reports recount a dinner at the Murdochs’ table in October 2025 that highlighted shifting loyalties within Trump’s circle. The book Regime Change by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan includes accounts of the tension between Trump and Murdoch, past disagreements over VP picks, and the possibility of a narrative that Trump is seeking peace. The excerpts raise questions about recordings in secure rooms and the handling of Epstein-related materials.
Our analysis
According to The Independent, Trump has had a fraught history with Murdoch’s media entities, including a legal clash with the Wall Street Journal over Epstein reporting. Axios has obtained passages from Regime Change, which recounts a dinner with Vance and Rubio and Murdoch’s reaction. The New York Post and Axios pieces corroborate the broader narrative of tension, leaked recordings, and the potential for a book to influence public perception. Direct quotes are included in the articles to illustrate the reported dynamics.
Go deeper
- What did Murdoch’s remarks to Trump signal about 2028 loyalties?
- How might potential audio recordings influence White House transparency and public trust?
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JD Vance - American author
James David Vance is an American author and venture capitalist. He is best known for his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about Appalachian values and their relation to the social problems of his hometown, which attracted significant media attention during the 201
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Maggie Haberman - American journalist
Maggie Lindsy Haberman is an American journalist. She is a White House correspondent for The New York Times and a political analyst for CNN. She previously worked as a political reporter for The New York Post, the New York Daily News, and Politico.
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Jonathan Swan - Australian journalist
Jonathan Swan is an Australian journalist who works as a political reporter for Axios.
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Marco Rubio - United States Senator
Marco Antonio Rubio is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Florida. A Republican, Rubio previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
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Rupert Murdoch - American media mogul
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KCSG is an Australian-born American media mogul who founded News Corp. He is the son of Keith Murdoch, one time senior executive of Australia's Herald & Weekly Times publishing company.