A new book has made claims about Donald Trump’s private discussions with Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson, suggesting the former US president said he would avoid going to war with Iran. The account is based on reporting by journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan and appears in an upcoming political book titled Regime Change.
According to the book, Trump made the remarks during a meeting in the Oval Office with Carlson and Musk. The discussion reportedly took place early last year. During the meeting, Trump is said to have directly responded to concerns about a possible conflict by saying, “We’re not doing that.”
The meeting included Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk, who is described as the chief executive of SpaceX and one of the most influential technology figures in the world. The book claims Trump engaged both men in a wide ranging discussion about foreign policy, public opinion, and military risk.
The authors describe Carlson as a key informal adviser who still had influence among parts of Trump’s political base. Although Carlson had previously criticized Trump on some foreign policy issues, the book says Trump still sought his views on sensitive geopolitical questions.
In the reported conversation, Carlson warned that a wider conflict with Iran could damage Trump politically. Trump is said to have responded firmly that he would avoid such a war. The exchange highlights internal tensions around foreign policy decisions and political strategy during that period.
The book also claims Trump made strong personal remarks about his influence and authority while in office. At one point, he is said to have suggested that no previous US president had held comparable power. Carlson reportedly responded by referencing Franklin D. Roosevelt and warning that war could undermine that influence.
The publication further describes emotional and graphic conversations in the Oval Office about past military and intelligence operations in the region. These included references to violent incidents linked to regional conflict involving Iran aligned groups.
The authors also write about Israel’s 2024 operation targeting Hezbollah using hidden explosive devices. The operation reportedly caused significant casualties and drew global attention. Trump is described in the book as reacting strongly to accounts of the injuries caused by the attack.
According to the book, Trump expressed shock after viewing images and hearing descriptions of the aftermath. He is said to have repeated that the situation was “horrible” while discussing the impact of the attacks in detail during the meeting.
The book also claims Musk was present during parts of the discussion and appeared deeply engaged in the conversation. It suggests he observed elements of military technology shown during the meeting, including a device described as a symbolic example of the operation.
The authors state that their reporting is based on interviews and sources familiar with the events. They also note that direct quotations are used where individuals had personal knowledge of the conversations described.
The claims come amid broader debates about Trump’s foreign policy decisions and approach to Iran. During his presidency, tensions between the United States and Iran fluctuated significantly, including periods of military escalation and diplomatic breakdown.
The book also references Trump’s reaction to intelligence briefings and regional conflicts involving Iran aligned groups. It suggests that internal discussions in the White House often included both strategic caution and strong rhetoric about military strength.
Neither Trump, Musk, nor Carlson have provided detailed public responses to the specific claims in the book at the time of reporting. The book is expected to be released in the United States later this week, and further reactions are anticipated once it becomes widely available.
The publication adds to a growing body of insider accounts examining decision making inside the Trump administration. It also highlights the complex role of informal advisers and influential business leaders in shaping political discussions at the highest level.
As with many political books based on insider reporting, the claims have not been independently verified in full. The discussion is likely to fuel further debate about US foreign policy toward Iran and the influence of private conversations on public decisions.
