Trump 1.0 to 2.0: Firing of Comey marks turning point as aides’ texts show a transformed White House

A long-standing observer's portrait of Donald J. Trump's presidency centers on the May 9, 2017 firing of FBI Director James Comey, recasting it as the moment that marks a transformation from an anxious, Washington-aware 1.0 to an unshackled, 2.0 commander.

Mark Halperin, drawing on his reporting and conversations with Trump aides, describes him in the Oval Office that afternoon as both unsettled by the drama and attentive to how the episode would be seen by the media, Capitol Hill, and Trump’s donors. Aides worried the move could boomerang, potentially dragging the president into a political firestorm. The firing was explosive because it challenged Washington's etiquette and the 'done thing' of that club.

Today, Halperin writes, the atmosphere in the White House has changed: Trump 2.0 is unshackled, unrestrained, and unafraid to act without seeking elite approval. The president is surrounded by like-minded advisers who share his worldview, not cautious insiders. Analyses draw parallels to Nixon and Johnson—leaders who believed rules no longer applied after massive victories—but note Trump’s shift is not about false confidence but about a deliberate stance against the establishment.

Comey has become a symbol of the new approach; the decision to fire him is seen by Team Trump as proof that elite condemnation no longer constrains action. The inner circle is described as lean, loyal, combative, with experiences of the last decade aligning with the president's instincts. The narrative holds that criticism from elites serves as confirmation rather than caution.

The article suggests the shift explains much of Trump’s political style and the dynamics of his base, where criticism from elites is treated as applause. When the elites cry foul, Team Trump hears applause, and the White House sees evidence of strength.

Eight years after that tense May afternoon, the Comey firing is framed as emblematic of Trump’s evolution from cautious operator to an unfiltered leader, a development with consequences for how the country is governed.