The Ezra Klein Show
Episode: Inside Trump’s ‘Royal Court’
Date: February 20, 2026
Guests: Ashley Parker and Michael Shear (The Atlantic staff writers, longtime Trump reporters)
Theme: How the internal dynamics of Trump’s second-term White House have shifted from the faction-ridden chaos of his first term to something more akin to a disciplined, loyalty-based “royal court” — and what that means for American governance.
Overview
This episode dives deep into the internal workings, decision-making, and power structures of Donald Trump’s second-term White House. Ezra Klein, joined by seasoned Trump-watchers Ashley Parker and Michael Shear, explores how the administration has evolved: from infighting and competing “gangs of rivals” toward a tightly controlled environment where loyalty is paramount, power flows from the top down, and the structure feels increasingly like a “royal court.” The discussion examines personalities (including Suzie Wiles, Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, and J.D. Vance), prevailing theories of power, the White House decision-making process, and the practical and political consequences for the United States.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Comparing Trump’s First and Second Terms
Factional Chaos vs. Absolute Loyalty
- First Term: Characterized by “a series of factions...each constantly leaking about the other factions” ([01:02]), resulting in both internal incoherence and a wealth of information for the press.
- Second Term: Staff selected “much more for loyalty” with reduced infighting ([01:02]).
- Quote: “This time, loyalty would be absolute.” — Michael Shear ([09:15])
Shift in Strategy and Personnel
- Trump felt “blocked” by his own appointees in his first term (Priebus, Kelly, Mattis, Barr, Cohn), who saw themselves as “guardrails” ([03:03]).
- Subsequent appointments are often drawn from Trump loyalists — or even establishment Republicans now realigned for self-preservation (e.g., Marco Rubio) ([09:15, 11:16]).
2. The New “Royal Court” Structure
Trump’s Expectation
- Trump now expects staff to enable, not restrain. “If the president asks for something twice, we do it.” ([03:33])
Power Hierarchy and Enforcement
- The message is clear: “He cleaned house wherever he saw doubt, and literally impose[d] loyalty tests...” — Michael Shear ([09:50])
- Cabinet meetings described as “fealty to the king...it’s very much like a royal court” ([09:50]).
Cabinet-Level Transactionalism
- Cabinet and top officials “constantly trying to figure out every day how to please the king..." — Michael Shear ([56:16])
3. The Role of Suzie Wiles (Chief of Staff)
Unique Leadership Approach
- Wiles is the “most important person” on staff, the first to successfully “handle” Trump by knowing how and when to intervene ([13:21], [15:35]).
- Quote: “Suzie is able to go to him and say, ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’ ... She’s been very good at keeping people in line.” — Michael Shear ([15:35])
Gender Dynamics
- Trump responds better to women in top roles (Wiles, Kellyanne Conway) compared to men ([15:35], [17:48]).
Control Through Process, Not Censorship
- Wiles doesn’t restrict information flow to Trump, unlike previous Chiefs of Staff, so “he feels like he’s not being controlled” ([18:47]).
Discipline and Internal Culture
- She maintains discipline “often very subtly,” and the majority of top staff are her “people” ([15:35]).
Wiles’ Own Perspective
- In a Vanity Fair profile, she described herself more as an “enabler” than resistor, helping Trump navigate the system without trying to “march in and tell the president something is unconstitutional” ([20:20]).
4. Decision-Making, Loyalty, and Information Flow
Information Quality & Presidential Mindset
- Trump “doesn’t differentiate always between the sources...He is willing to treat those all equally” — Ashley Parker ([24:40])
- Feeds on affirmation; staff and outside influences show him only what he wants to see ([24:40]).
Bullshitter vs. Liar
- Trump as “bullshitter” (not a classic liar): “The bullshitter doesn’t actually care about the truth” ([28:08]).
- Staff do not see “ensuring Trump’s picture of reality is true” as their priority ([26:15–28:51]).
Private vs. Public Messaging
- Staff may privately push back or try to channel Trump, but what reaches the public “is the President’s reality” ([28:51–30:25]).
5. Key Power Players
Stephen Miller (“Prime Minister” of Policy)
- Miller, formally deputy chief of staff, “is at the top of the totem pole” regarding policy ([32:01]), integral in both domestic and foreign policy debates.
- Functions as the “accelerant...always adding more fuel...we have to go harder” ([32:01]).
- Miller’s style: Ideological, structured, relentless in operationalizing “iron laws...a world governed by power” ([39:56]).
- Quote: “He brings that attitude to the whole conversation inside the government.” — Michael Shear ([34:37])
- Quote: “A directive from Stephen Miller is viewed as a directive from Donald Trump himself.” — Ashley Parker ([45:29])
Marco Rubio
- From “Little Marco” and rhetorical adversary (2016) to Secretary of State and National Security Adviser. His ascent was solidified by “standing up” to Elon Musk in a private cabinet meeting ([47:00]).
- Rubio is seen as “much more of a nationalist” and “very deferential” to Trump; trusted but not challenging ([50:07–51:35]).
J.D. Vance (Vice President)
- Described as “chief ideologist,” also a “troll” who serves as political glue between Trump’s impulses and an ideological project ([43:23]).
- Relationship dynamic defined more by future ambition than friction; seen as possible 2028 successor ([44:39–45:48]).
Others
- Pete Hegseth (Defense) is more of a “performer” for Trump rather than a strategist ([53:32]).
- Tulsi Gabbard (DNI) has been cut out of the loop after early missteps, seeking to recover her standing through loyalty displays ([53:32–54:55]).
- Pam Bondi’s sycophancy at hearings exemplifies the new “courtier” model ([55:20]).
6. The “Royal Court” Culture
Performance and Proximity Over Process
- Cabinet not just serving their departments, but actively performing their loyalty and seeking facetime with Trump — “if he’s thinking of you, that’s good for you” ([56:16]).
- Public performances (Cabinet meetings, hearings) mirror the performative “court” in private ([56:06]).
Comparison to Obama, Biden
- Obama “ran a government like a corporation” — process-focused, impersonal ([56:16]).
- Trump is “a president who is served by the White House and the government,” not the reverse ([63:11]).
- Trump’s schedule leaves a lot of open time; he “wakes up late,” spends considerable time on the phone, watching TV, golf, and less on structured policy meetings ([60:05]).
7. Policy Approach and Governance Implications
Gut Instinct and Transactionalism
- Trump rules on “raw, visceral gut instinct,” always “trying to win the minute, the hour, the day” ([67:07]).
- He sets policy by impulse rather than through structured processes, sometimes announcing major shifts via social media in the middle of the night without prior vetting ([67:07–68:35]).
Implications for Knowledge and Oversight
- As Trump is more interested in “inputs” and affirmation than briefing books, there are deficits in what he knows about the details of his administration’s own projects ([65:59–69:39]).
Legislative, Political, and Electoral Impact
- Despite “swagger,” Republicans and the White House are aware that “this strategy is...mobilizing opposition” — poor polling, legislative struggles, midterm losses ([41:20], [41:20]).
- Attempts at recalibration (e.g., Minneapolis shooting fallout) are limited and do not substantially moderate administration direction ([41:20–43:23]).
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- “This time, loyalty would be absolute.” — Michael Shear ([09:15])
- “[Cabinet meetings are] fealty to the king...very much like a royal court.” — Michael Shear ([09:50])
- “A directive from Stephen Miller is viewed as a directive from Donald Trump himself.” — Ashley Parker ([36:14])
- “He is a president who is served by the White House and the government around him.” — Michael Shear ([63:11])
- “Trump is always trying to win the minute, the hour, the day. He is trying to win over and woo the person directly in front of him, which can send him at times careening...” — Ashley Parker ([67:07])
- “He just doesn’t prioritize accuracy...He thinks the things he says are made as part of a transaction with whoever he’s speaking to...” — Michael Shear ([26:25])
- Stephen Miller, at Charlie Kirk’s funeral:
“They cannot imagine what they have awakened. They cannot conceive of the army that they have arisen in all of us because we stand for what is good, what is virtuous, what is noble...We are the ones who build. We are the ones who create. We are the ones who lift up humanity. You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk. You have made him immortal.” — Stephen Miller ([33:40–34:37])
Book Recommendations ([70:10])
Ashley Parker:
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- Any book by Ann Patchett
- Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost by Michael C. Bender
Michael Shear:
- An Image of My Name Enters America by Lucy Ives
- Palimpsest by Gore Vidal
- Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce by Douglas Starr
Final Thoughts
The Trump White House in its second term is described as a system that has shed proceduralism, internal rivalry, and concern for policy orthodoxy. In its place is a culture of personal loyalty, performative fealty, transactional relationships, and rule by presidential impulse, enabled by a “royal court” model. This shift has significant consequences for governance, democratic norms, and America’s posture in the world.
For anyone wondering what has truly changed inside Trump’s White House — and why that matters — this episode presents a richly detailed, deeply reported, and candid account.