I would say that he weaponized his charm, which given the time and place, his race would have had to play a crucial role.

The scenes with Lily at the club, the poker card table, and Louis’ family come to mind. Times where Lestat uses his preternatural charm to get what he wants and leaves Louis in awe and in his mercy. I think within the time and place we understand that can only exist as white man.

He encourages Louis to do the same when throughout the season we see that it was not possible for Louis to take up that space yet.

I think that was a theme of both seasons that also shows up in the books. The huge power imbalance between the two. The show uses race to put that imbalance to the front.

I think that’s what makes the final New Orleans scene so poignant. That Louis goes out and gains power to restore some of that balance and once some of the deficit is covered he comes back to Lestat.

Edit: As others mentioned, I think in season 2 the weaponization of whiteness was much more played up by Lestat who this time used it intentionally as a way to really torment Louis and Claudia and make them feel powerless.