An unusual episode from 2023 best illustrates just how far Natalie Harp’s devotion to Donald Trump has gone. According to CNN, when Trump’s staff was preparing to escort the then-president to a court hearing in New York, there was no room for Harp in the motorcade.
She insisted that Trump had personally requested her presence and, after a seat was not found for her, she crammed into the trunk of an SUV to avoid being left behind. The episode, now reported for the first time, is just one example of Harp’s special relationship with the US president.
The former conservative television host, the 35-year-old has become one of Trump’s most prominent contacts, forwarding messages, preparing posts for Truth Social, printing articles that may interest the president, and organizing contacts with allies and politicians.
Harp joined Trump’s staff in 2022, after crediting him with saving her life. During the 2024 presidential campaign, she followed Trump around the country and provided him with articles, materials, and social media posts.
For this very reason, Trump’s allies started calling him the “Human Printer.”
“Trump likes the attention and the fact that she is 100 percent committed and loyal. She doesn’t doubt or question,” a White House adviser told CNN.
A Republican lawmaker said that, even when he does manage to contact Trump directly, he always makes sure Harp is aware.
According to several sources cited by CNN, Harp’s continued presence has not always been well received by other staff members.
On several occasions, advisers who have sought private meetings with Trump have found Harp present in the room. Sources also say she has let some staff know that she reports only to Trump, causing tensions with the official chain of command in the White House.
An administration official has downplayed these claims, saying that Harp cooperates well with most colleagues and forwards information to the appropriate persons.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle has publicly defended her, calling her “one of Trump’s most loyal and hardworking aides.”
Harp’s role has been thrust back into the spotlight after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff mentioned him during a speech critical of Trump. The comments sparked a backlash from the White House, while Harp’s name went viral on social media.
People close to the White House have described the relationship between Trump and Harp as “that of a father and daughter,” denying any other insinuations.
However, according to CNN, even among officials who have long been concerned about her unusual influence, there is no expectation that the recent public attention will weaken Harp’s position with the president.
Another episode illustrates this closeness: when Trump posted and then deleted a controversial video on Truth Social, some of his allies privately suspected that Harp might have been responsible for the post, as she was among the few people with access to the president’s account. However, according to CNN, they were hesitant to accuse her publicly, fearing that it would make Trump even more defensive of her.