A CNN panel discussed a reported anecdote from the upcoming book 'Regime Change,' written by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, which describes an encounter involving President Donald Trump and a document allegedly comparing his power to that of several well-known historical rulers and authoritarian figures.

According to the account presented on CNN, Trump showed the authors a document that he said had been prepared by a presidential historian and that argued he possessed greater authority than figures such as Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Adolf Hitler.

Subsequent reporting cited during the segment claimed that the document was actually written by the longtime caddy of professional golfer Gary Player rather than by a historian.CNN anchor Abby Phillip introduced the story during a discussion with political commentators and journalists.As she summarized the reported details, several panelists, including Xochitl Hinojosa and Isaiah Martin, reacted with laughter and disbelief.Phillip emphasized that the story was being reported as a factual account rather than a joke.

Despite the humorous reaction to the unusual nature of the claim, Hinojosa expressed concern about the implications of a president comparing himself to authoritarian leaders.She argued that such comparisons were troubling because they suggested a view of executive power that resembles that of dictators.

At the same time, she maintained that public opinion would ultimately shape Trump's historical legacy, arguing that he remains a highly unpopular political figure.The segment focused on both the unusual origin of the document and the broader political implications of the reported comparison.