Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old executive assistant to United States President Donald Trump, has suddenly found herself at the centre of attention after reports about her unusually close relationship with the American president sparked intense debate in Washington.
Harp, who has worked closely with Trump for several years, is now one of the most visible figures in his inner circle despite largely staying away from the public spotlight.
She currently serves as a special assistant and executive assistant to the president, earning $150,000 a year, according to the White House’s 2026 annual report to Congress.
The California-born political aide is perhaps best known for her unwavering support for Trump and her role in helping manage his information and social media environment.
She has even earned the nickname “human printer” because she has been known to follow Trump with a portable printer and hand him printed material, including news stories and draft social media posts.
Who is Natalie Harp?
Harp graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University before earning an MBA from Liberty University. She later entered conservative media and worked as a television presenter for One America News Network (OANN), a right-wing news outlet, from 2020 to 2022.
However, her connection with Trump began before she officially became one of his aides.
Harp rose to prominence after publicly crediting Trump’s “Right to Try” law with helping her access cancer treatment. She had been diagnosed with Stage 2 cancer and said Trump’s legislation gave her another option after her doctors had not offered her the treatment she wanted.
Trump noticed her story and praised her publicly after she appeared on Fox News. He later invited her to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention, where she delivered an emotional speech praising the president and his policies.
After working in conservative media, Harp joined Trump’s political operation and became increasingly close to him. She joined his team in 2022 and became a regular presence around the former president during his political activities.
By Trump’s second presidency, her role had expanded considerably.
She was officially appointed as Trump’s executive assistant in January 2025 and now works directly for the president. The White House lists her as both a special assistant and executive assistant to the president.
The bizarre SUV incident
One of the strangest stories surrounding Harp involves a 2023 trip to New York.
According to a CNN report cited by People, Harp reportedly became involved in an argument after learning there was no room for her in Trump’s motorcade for his court appearance. After insisting that Trump had personally asked her to attend, she ultimately rode in the trunk of an SUV so she could accompany him.
The incident has since become part of the larger picture of Harp’s extraordinary determination to remain close to the president.
Why is Natalie Harp in the spotlight now?
Harp’s profile has exploded in recent days after a series of reports brought renewed attention to her role, her extraordinary closeness to Trump and the amount of influence she may have over the president’s communications.
Her involvement in Trump’s social media operation has made her particularly important at a time when the president frequently uses Truth Social to announce policies, attack political opponents and respond to breaking events.
Her allegedly influential role in managing the media for the U.S. has made her a strong candidate to replace the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who left the job to spend time with her family.
2026-08-20 22:27:00
