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Natalie Harp
Harp in 2025
Executive Assistant to the President
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 20, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Personal details
Born1991 (age 34–35)
PartyRepublican
Education

Natalie Harp (born 1991) is an American political aide and former television anchor who has served as special assistant and executive assistant to the president of the United States since 2025.[1][2]

In 2019, Harp received attention after praising President Donald Trump for signing into law a federal right-to-try law which she said had saved her life. Trump invited Harp to serve as a member of the advisory board for his 2020 presidential campaign and to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention. Harp worked for the far-right television channel One America News Network from 2020 to 2022. She later became an aide to Trump for his 2024 presidential campaign, exerting influence over his communications.

In January 2025, Trump appointed Harp to his White House staff. As his assistant, Harp has managed Trump's Truth Social account, and was responsible for several controversial posts on his account. In 2026, Harp's close relationship and unusual influence over Trump became the subject of extensive media reporting and speculation.

Early life and education

Natalie Harp was born in 1991,[3] and raised in the neighborhood of Carmel Valley, San Diego, California.[4] She and her older brother were homeschooled by their mother Jill Harp.[5][6] Her brother has said they were taught American exceptionalism at home.[5] She is a devout, evangelical Christian.[7] Her father, Robert Harp, was a real estate broker who founded GlobalHotelNetwork, a consultancy for travel companies, in 2000;[8] he died by suicide in July 2020.[9] Robert earned a Master of Theology Degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and worked as an administrator and adjunct professor at Biola University's Crowell School of Business. In 2019, he joined the Lausanne Movement.[10][11] Natalie Harp graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2012, and from Liberty University in 2015 with an MBA.[12]

Career

Trump work and Republican National Committee speech (2019–2020)

Trump invited Harp to join him on stage during his speech at the 2019 Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference.[13]

By 2017, Harp had become vocally critical of healthcare in the United States after she began suffering from health issues, particularly chronic pain and complications incurred by a medical error involving intravenous therapy for stage II bone cancer.[14] Harp made a post on LinkedIn on June 12, 2019[15] titled "I'm Living Proof – the Party of Healthcare is Trump's" that resulted in an invitation to appear on Fox News.[16] Two days later,[15] in that appearance, she praised Trump for signing into law a federal right-to-try law that she said allowed her to access experimental treatments which she credited with saving her life.[7] However, The Washington Post cast doubt on Harp's story, citing medical experts who said that the treatment in question was already approved for off-label use and reporting that she had already made public comments about receiving the new treatment two months before the law was signed.[14]

Harp appeared with Trump and spoke at a Faith and Freedom Coalition meeting on June 26, 2019.[17]

Trump invited Harp to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention held in August 2020.[7] Her speech compared Trump to George Bailey, the protagonist of the film It's a Wonderful Life (1946),[18] leading to criticism from the family of the character's actor, Jimmy Stewart.[19] By August 2020, she had become a member of the advisory board for Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.[20]

One America News Network and return to Trump (2020–2024)

In 2020, Harp began working as an anchor for One America News Network (OANN), a far-right television channel,[21] promoting false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.[22] Harp reportedly says that she fully supports conspiracy theories related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election and believes that Trump defeated Joe Biden.[23] On January 6, 2021, the day of the attack on the US Capitol, she posted 150 pro-Trump messages to an account on X.[24] They included remarks such as "FIGHT FOR TRUMP!", "today we STOP THE STEAL!", and "We will never give up. We will never concede."[24] The account has since been deactivated.[24]

In April 2022, Harp left OANN amid an exodus after DirecTV refused to carry the channel.[25] Months later, she became an aide for Trump in his 2024 presidential campaign. She often accompanied Trump when he played golf, bringing a laptop and a printer to show him articles and social media posts.[26] Harp's frequent use of a printer, which accommodated Trump's preference for hard copies, led to her being referred to as the "human printer" by associates and members of the press, a reference to her role printing out flattering social media posts and positive news articles about Trump, and bringing them to his attention throughout the day.[27][28]

Harp has posted to Truth Social on Trump's behalf, including a post that announced he had received a target letter in the election obstruction case, surprising other aides.[26] In May 2024, an unidentified staffer used Trump's account to repost a video of faux newspaper headlines which hypothesized a Trump victory and included the term "Unified Reich". According to The Bulwark, that staffer was Harp.[22]

Aides who spoke to The New York Times called Harp a "conduit" and an "instant enabler of his impulses". In his book All or Nothing (2025), the journalist Michael Wolff described Harp as a "gatekeeper".[12] Harp's access to Trump allowed people to send her damaging clips of their rivals. Some White House aides attributed Trump's relationship with Harp to her decision to remain loyal to him after the January 6 Capitol attack.[7] She also served as an avenue for the far-right political activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer to influence Trump.[29] Harp provided Trump with an image of him wielding a baseball bat near Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg's head in advance of Trump's indictment by Bragg in March 2023.[7] In August 2024, The New York Times reported that Trump had directed Harp to send angry text messages in his name to Miriam Adelson, a major campaign donor, the previous month,[30] nearly costing Adelson's support.[7]

Executive assistant to the President (2025–present)

Trump and Harp traveling to watch the 2025 US Open – Men's singles

In November 2024, after Trump won the 2024 presidential election, The New York Times wrote that Harp was set to serve in his administration. That month, she posted a message sent to Trump by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that was intended to be private.[7] In January 2025, Trump appointed Harp to the position of special assistant to the President and executive assistant to the President, with a government salary of US$150,000.[2][23][31] One White House staff member said that she "plays into the less productive and more troublesome parts of his nature, putting things in front of him that aren't vetted".[32]

Harp continued to take dictation of social media posts for Trump.[33]

According to the book Regime Change, Dan Scavino, who had handled Trump's social media accounts, largely gave control of Trump's Truth Social account to Harp.[34] She was responsible for posting a video that included a racist depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, and for posting an AI-generated image that appeared to show Trump dressed in clothes and utilizing powers that are associated with Jesus.[35]

During the 2026 alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump, Harp was described by the Times as among the "lucky few" who were evacuated from Air Force One in secret via a cargo food container.[23] The Washington Post reported that Harp was among a handful of close aides who accompanied Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth onto a second airplane.[36] Other senior government officials and some Cabinet members in the presidential line of succession, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were left on the allegedly targeted decoy flight.[15]

Harp's presence on the plane was noted by Georgia Democratic senator Jon Ossoff in a criticism of Trump and his administration at a campaign rally held in Atlanta. The speech went viral, and brought attention to Harp.[37]

Some White House aides and political allies began what was described in The Atlantic as "all-out shielding of Harp".[38]

Security clearance refusal

Harp worked in close proximity to Trump and other national security figures for over one year without any security clearance vetting, inspection or review.[39] It is unknown why Harp refused to comply with security review or apply for her clearance.[32][39]

The New Republic reported that Trump himself was ultimately "forced to personally intervene", following which Harp initiated a background check and received her security clearance. One national security official warned that her close proximity gave her access to more sensitive information than any other of Trump's associates.[32]

Relationship with Donald Trump

Harp, with JD Vance and Donald Trump, in the Oval Office in 2025

Donald Trump remarked that Harp was the only aide who cared about him after his arraignment in connection with the Georgia election racketeering prosecution, according to the Times. The paper additionally reported on a series of letters Harp sent Trump in 2023 that unnerved people in Trump's inner circle, citing phrases such as "You are all that matters to me", "I want to bring you joy",[7] and "Guardian and Protector in this Life".[24][40] The Guardian described the letters as "intensely affectionate".[24] Harp does not take any days off from her role with Trump and is by his side daily. Her displays of devotion to Trump concerned some White House staff.[23][29]

According to the journalist Alex Isenstadt, in one instance, Trump's wife, Melania, discovered Harp in his private quarters, an area reserved for the Trump family, working with him at night.[41] In Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reported that Trump had described Harp as the "only one who loves him as much as his wife and children", and that she "will never leave him".[23]

CNN reported that in one letter, Harp wrote to Trump:

You have the absolute right to cuss me out, if need be, when I deserve it, because no one knows or cares about me more.[40]

In October 2023, Harp chose to stow herself in the trunk of an SUV of the Presidential motorcade in order "not to be left behind" following a "screaming match" in the lobby of Trump Tower, according to CNN.[42][32] Harp was recorded sprinting across the grounds of Trump International Golf Links Scotland to keep up with the President in his golf cart; she sent him a letter in response to her actions apologizing for having caused any embarrassment. She said in it that she was distracted that week and had been "forgetting to eat" and sleep.[23] Harp has compared Trump to Biblical characters.[24] Financial disclosure forms showed that Trump gave Harp and two other female aides each a $45,000 cash gift as a holiday bonus in 2025.[43] The White House denied that the bonuses, which amounted to around a third of their salaries, violated any ethics rules.[43]

Staff have tried to discreetly isolate Harp from Trump without success, and said she and Trump were unaware of their actions.[32] Increased attention on Harp from news organizations reportedly angered Trump and West Wing aides.[38] When questioned by CNN's Kristen Holmes about a remark from Senator Jon Ossoff that referred directly to Harp, Trump referenced a 1980s cultural trope for an insult against Ossoff, calling him "Pee-Wee Herman",[38] and lashed out at the reporter who asked the question.[16][44]

References

  1. ↑ Watson, Kathryn (August 18, 2026). "Who is Trump aide Natalie Harp? Loyal assistant suddenly in the spotlight". CBS News. Retrieved August 21, 2026. The 35-year-old's official title is special assistant and executive assistant to the president
  2. 1 2 Lee, Chantelle (August 19, 2026). "What to Know About Trump's Aide Natalie Harp". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ Heer, Jeet (August 21, 2026). "Natalie Harp Is the High Priestess of the Cult of Trump". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Archived from the original on August 23, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ Ceballos, Ana; Fry, Hannah (August 30, 2026). "A conservative California upbringing paved Natalie Harp's way to Trump". Los Angeles Times.
  5. 1 2 Aburto, Wilfredo Miranda (August 21, 2026). "The 'revolutionary' life in Nicaragua of devoted Trump aide Natalie Harp's brother". El País. Archived from the original on August 22, 2026. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ Konig, Joseph (August 18, 2026). "Everything to Know About Natalie Harp, Trump's Headline-Making Assistant". People. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Haberman, Maggie; Swan, Jonathan (November 25, 2024). "Devoted Aide Who Keeps Good News Flowing Will Follow Trump to the White House". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024.
  8. ↑ Pavia, Will (May 23, 2024). "Meet Trump's 'human printer' who claims he saved her from dying of cancer". The Times. Archived from the original on May 18, 2026. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  9. ↑ Hawkinson, Katie (July 1, 2026). "Natalie Harp is looking for a replacement father figure which is why she turned to Trump, her brother reveals". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 20, 2026. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Biola Grieves Passing of Professor and Administrator Bob Harp". Biola University. July 21, 2020. Archived from the original on August 16, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Obituary for Bob Harp Jr". Evansville Courier and Press. Evansville, Indiana. August 2, 2020. pp. A4 – via newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 Wolff 2025, p. 32.
  13. ↑ "Remarks by President Trump at the Faith and Freedom Coalition 'Road to Majority' 2019 Conference – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Wan, William (August 25, 2020). "Natalie Harp said Trump saved her life. Experts doubt that's true". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 Hartmann, Margaret (August 17, 2026). "Who Is Natalie Harp? Trump's Most Ardent Aide, Explained". New York. Archived from the original on June 28, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Smith, David (August 19, 2026). "Who is Natalie Harp? Trump's closest and most devoted aide is in the spotlight". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  17. ↑ Kemp, Danny (August 20, 2026). "Trump's devoted 'human printer' thrust into spotlight by Ankara decoy flight saga". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  18. ↑ Poniewozik, James (August 25, 2020). "R.N.C. Begins, Masks (and Sometimes Facts) Optional". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  19. ↑ Sharf, Zack (August 27, 2020). "Jimmy Stewart's Family Slams RNC Speech Comparing Trump to 'It's a Wonderful Life' Hero". IndieWire. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  20. ↑ Astor, Maggie (August 24, 2020). "How to Watch the Republican National Convention". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  21. ↑ Fellmann, Fabian (May 24, 2024). "«Junge, schöne Frau» druckt Donald Trump das Internet aus" ["Young, beautiful woman" prints out the Internet for Donald Trump]. Tages-Anzeiger (in German). Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Caputo, Marc (May 22, 2024). "Meet Trump's 'Human Printer'". The Bulwark. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Haberman, Maggie; McCreesh, Shawn (August 18, 2026). "'With All My Heart, Natalie.' Trump's Most Devoted Aide Emerges". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sargent, Marina (August 24, 2026). "Natalie Harp reportedly posted 150 pro-Trump tweets on day of Capitol riot". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 23, 2026.
  25. ↑ Daniels, Eugene (April 13, 2022). "Dems split over Biden gas price moves". Politico. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  26. 1 2 Helderman, Rosalind; Dawsey, Josh; Parker, Ashley; Alemany, Jacqueline (December 18, 2022). "How Trump jettisoned restraints at Mar-a-Lago and prompted legal peril". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  27. ↑ Ryan, Brad (August 19, 2026). "Trump supporters angrily defend his loyal aide after taunt goes viral". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 22, 2026.
  28. ↑ Debusmann, Bernd (August 19, 2026). "Who is Natalie Harp, Trump's right-hand woman?". BBC News. Archived from the original on August 22, 2026. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  29. 1 2 Arnsdorf, Isaac; Dawsey, Josh; Alemany, Jacqueline (August 23, 2023). "Trump gravitates to fringe figures despite efforts to limit their influence". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  30. ↑ Haberman, Maggie; Swan, Jonathan (August 10, 2024). "Inside the Worst Three Weeks of Donald Trump's 2024 Campaign". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024.
  31. ↑ Lahut, Jake (June 2, 2025). "Trumpworld Is Getting Tired of Laura Loomer. They Hope the President Is Too". Wired. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 Olmsted, Edith (August 20, 2026). "Why Did Natalie Harp Wait Over a Year to Get a Security Clearance?". The New Republic. Archived from the original on August 21, 2026.
  33. ↑ Harwell, Drew; Morse, Clare; Davies, Emily (June 3, 2025). "Tallying Trump's online posting frenzy: 2,262 'truths' in 132 days". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  34. ↑ Haberman & Swan 2026, p. 169.
  35. ↑ DeBarros, Anthony; Linskey, Annie (May 12, 2026). "The Late-Night Truth Social Storms That Offer a Window Into the President's Mind". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  36. ↑ Lamothe, Dan; Zakrzewski, Cat (August 12, 2026). "Close aides, but no Cabinet officials, joined Trump in airport catering truck". The Washington Post.
  37. ↑ Jira, Violet; Westfall, Sammy (August 18, 2026). "What to know about Natalie Harp, the Trump aide whom Ossoff put in the spotlight". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  38. 1 2 3 Lemire, Jonathan (August 20, 2026). "The White House Freak-Out Over Natalie Harp". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on August 21, 2026.
  39. 1 2 Gedeon, Joseph; Smith, David (August 20, 2026). "White House faces questions over security clearance for top Trump aide Natalie Harp". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 21, 2026.
  40. 1 2 Iyer, Kaanita; Treene, Alayna (August 21, 2026). "'My Guardian and Protector': Natalie Harp letters express her devotion to Trump". CNN. Archived from the original on August 21, 2026.
  41. ↑ Isenstadt 2025, p. 24.
  42. ↑ Holmes, Kristen; Cancryn, Adam (August 18, 2026). "Meet Natalie Harp, the aide so close to Trump she once rode in an SUV trunk to accompany him". CNN. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  43. 1 2 Zakrzewski, Cat; Schaffer, Aaron (September 9, 2026). "Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp, two other close aides". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  44. ↑ Spangler, Todd (August 17, 2026). "Donald Trump Attacks CNN's Kristen Holmes for Asking if He Spoke to North Korean Dictator: 'You're a Loud, Boisterous Person. Be Quiet!'". Variety. Retrieved September 4, 2026.

Works cited

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