Overview
- The account appears in Regime Change, published June 23, 2026, by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, who based the book on hundreds of interviews and an hourlong interview with the president.
- Haberman and Swan describe repeated disputes over furnishings and room control, including the president moving pieces Melania had selected and staff photographing replacement options to send to the first lady for approval.
- The authors report the couple maintain separate bedrooms in the residence, and that the president redecorated parts of the home with a more ornate, gilt style while Melania favored a quieter, minimalist look.
- The book recounts two major renovation flashpoints: the Rose Garden redesign that Melania considered a signature project and the October 2025 demolition of the East Wing to build a new ballroom that she opposed because it created a construction zone.
- The White House and the Office of the First Lady did not respond publicly in the cited coverage, and media summaries have emphasized how these decor fights illustrate personalization of presidential space and the operational strain placed on residence staff.