A little-known aide to President Trump has become the topic of speculation and analysis over her unusual professional relationship with the president. Scrutiny concerning Natalie Harp, the Trump aide called the “human printer,” has fueled renewed concerns Trump’s judgment and what types of influences impact his decisions.
Political attack draws attention to Trump aide
During a rally for his reelection campaign, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) criticized Trump on a host of issues, ranging from the reportedly deplorable living conditions for sailors deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during the war with Iran to Trump’s controversial ballroom project and Qatari-donated Air Force One jet. “While the sailors on the Lincoln fight his war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings, he golfs, and trades stocks,” Ossoff said of Trump. “He doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar.”
Ossoff’s comments set off a string of personal insults from Trump and his allies against the Democratic senator while also drawing attention to Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old aide who serves as one of Trump’s most personal aides. Many people learned of Harp due to the controversy over Trump secretly switching to a military plane to fly out of Turkey due to threats that Air Force One was being targeted for attack. The incident raised a number of questions, including why Harp was one of the few people Trump brought with him on his flight, even as cabinet members and reporters were left on the main plane despite the threat that it might be in danger.
Natalie Harp’s rise to Trump’s inner circle; now Republicans defend her
Harp first gained prominence in 2019 when she shared her experience of recovering from bone cancer and credited Trump with saving her life by supporting a “Right to Try” policy that allowed her to access experimental treatments. Harp’s public adulation for Trump brought her into his orbit, and her effusive praise of the president eventually segued to her appearing as a host on the right-wing One America News Network before going to work for Trump in 2022.
Republicans have reacted to Ossoff’s comments with defensiveness and accusations of sexism and misogyny against the Democratic senator. These GOP criticisms accuse Ossoff of implying that Trump, who has a history of accused infidelity, is involved in an inappropriate relationship with Harp. “Today @SenOssoff decided to be a sexist arrogant jerk and took time to make a malicious implication and LIE about Natalie Harp. Grow up John,” posted MAGA-aligned Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
Harp’s admiration for Trump has raised red flags about the impact of her closeness to the president on his administration. Harp’s estranged brother has accused her of having an “unhealthy obsession” with Trump while casting doubt on speculation that she had a physical attraction to the president.
Questions about Trump’s judgment and Harp’s influence
Outside of any speculation over a romantic relationship, political pundits have noted irregularities surrounding Harp’s employment. These include reports that she worked in the White House for over a year without obtaining a security clearance, a situation that raises concerns about her access to national security information. Unflattering anecdotes have emerged concerning alleged unusual behavior by Harp, such as her getting into a “screaming match” with other staffers after Harp was not given a seat in Trump’s motorcade, an incident that is said to have ended with her jumping into the trunk of one of the SUVs that escorted Trump to his civil fraud trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
These anecdotes have raised questions about Harp’s impact on Trump and the president’s judgment in giving her the level of influence and access she has. A New York Times profile of Harp describes her as “the utmost gatekeeper to President Trump, a one-woman conduit of information operating entirely outside the usual chain of command.” The story notes that Harp is by Trump’s side every day and is the main filter of information for the president, composing many of his social media posts and finding information online to share with the president, including via a portable printer that Harp keeps with her; her latter function has earned her the nickname “the human printer.” The article suggests that Harp may have been responsible for bringing to Trump’s attention the racist video he later shared that depicted the Obamas as apes.
Since Ossoff’s comment, discussions of Harp have proliferated conversations about White House politics. While Republicans have dismissed this discourse as gossip and sexism, Democrats and pundits have sought to highlight Trump’s connection with Harp as an example of poor judgment and a contributing factor to an unprofessional and toxic environment in the White House.