US President Donald Trump gave his close aide Natalie Harp a $45,000 holiday gift, according to financial disclosures.Harp, who works as Trump’s executive assistant, earns about $150,000 a year. The gift therefore amounts to nearly a third of her annual salary.
Who Is Natalie Harp?
Harp is a familiar face around Trump and is often seen working closely with him. She is known for keeping the president supplied with printed news reports and social media posts, earning her the nickname “human printer.”Her close proximity to Trump has made the size of the gift particularly notable.
Other Aides Also Received Gifts
Harp was not the only White House aide to report receiving money from Trump. Communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris also received $45,000 each, while Oval Office operations director Walt Nauta received $20,000.The White House has described the payments as personal holiday gifts and said they were unrelated to the recipients’ government duties.
Still, the disclosures have raised questions about the size of the payments and the ethical issues that can arise when senior government employees receive significant gifts from the president.
For now, the payments remain a personal matter, but the unusual amounts have put Trump’s relationship with his inner circle back in the spotlight.
