# Trump's inner circle runs on pure loyalty

> New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan explains how Trump's second term relies on officials who see him as a figure of destiny.
- Title: Trump's inner circle runs on pure loyalty · Mother Jones
- Summary: New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan explains how Trump's second term relies on officials who see him as a figure of destiny. Trump's presidency is…
- Keywords: donald trump, trump administration, second term, jonathan swan, new york times, loyalists, white house, regime change book, presidential staff, political loyalty, Trump's, inner
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/jonathan-swan-epstein-iran-trump-era
- Author: Reveal
- Published: 2026-09-23T06:01:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, trump administration, second term, jonathan swan, new york times, loyalists, white house, regime change book, presidential staff, political loyalty
## Trump's chaos strategy works
Trump constantly shifts focus from major issues like Iran and immigration to false claims about voter fraud and taking Greenland, creating constant distraction.
## Swan's book reveals inside decisions
New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan's new book Regime Change takes readers inside the room where Trump's major decisions happen during his second term.
## Loyalty isn't the right word
Trump's officials have a bond so strong that loyalty almost doesn't describe it. They see him as a figure of destiny, a historical figure God put here to save the country.

> The word 'loyalty' almost isn't strong enough to describe the bond that some of them have with him.
## Loyalists make chaos manageable
Swan says the true believers Trump surrounded himself with in his second term have made his overwhelming and exhausting presidency possible.
## Epstein scandal shook the White House
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal sent Trump's White House into crisis mode behind closed doors, according to Swan's reporting.
## Key takeaway

Trump's presidency is sustained by advisors bound by an almost religious devotion to him, not traditional political loyalty.