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Trump’s remarks on aide Natalie Harp spark storm

By Sohail Khan 20 August 2026, 8:39 pm

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Business News›News›International›Global Trends›'She will never leave me': President Donald Trump says aide Natalie Harp 'loves me as much as Melania' as brother calls her “delusionally obsessed”

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'She will never leave me': President Donald Trump says aide Natalie Harp 'loves me as much as Melania' as brother calls her “delusionally obsessed”

Synopsis

Natalie Harp is back in the spotlight after Donald Trump reportedly praised the longtime aide's loyalty, saying she “loves me as much as Melania.” The remarks have sparked controversy after her estranged brother described her as “delusionally obsessed” with Trump, while Eric Trump defended Harp and called the criticism “absolute trash.”

US President Trump and his Executive assistant Natalie Harp — Trump has reportedly described Natalie Harp as someone who is exceptionally loyal to him

US President Donald Trump’s comments about his close aide Natalie Harp have triggered fresh attention. Trump reportedly told people around him that Harp is among the few people who love him as much as his family.

The remarks have put the spotlight back on the 34-year-old White House aide, whose unusually close relationship with Trump has been the subject of public discussion in recent days.

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What did Donald Trump say about Natalie Harp?

Trump has reportedly described Harp as someone who is exceptionally loyal to him. According to , he said she probably is the only person who “loves him as much as his wife,” First Lady Melania Trump, and his children.

Trump has also reportedly told staff that Harp “will never leave me,” highlighting the level of trust he places in his longtime aide.

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“All of you will go off and make money. She’ll never leave me," Trump was quoted as saying in the book Regime Change, released by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Johnathan Swan.

The comments have drawn renewed attention because Harp has remained part of Trump's inner circle for years and is known for staying close to the president during his work and travels.

Who is Natalie Harp?

Harp has worked closely with Trump since 2019 and is currently described as his executive assistant. A California native and member of a conservative Christian family, Harp followed an unorthodox path into an already unconventional White House.

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She quickly gained prominence and popularity in Trump's Maga (Make America Great Again) wing of the Republican Party by talking about the experience, and soon after joined an advisory board for Trump's 2020 re-election campaign.

She has also earned the unofficial nickname “human printer” because she has reportedly carried a printer with her so Trump can quickly receive printed copies of documents and social media posts.

Her proximity to the president became a bigger talking point after Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff claimed during a campaign speech that Trump prefers to travel with Harp. Ossoff attacked Trump's "travel with Natalie on their apparently defenceless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar".

Another incident that resurfaced involved Harp reportedly getting into the trunk of an SUV in 2023 after insisting that she accompanied Trump when there was no available seat for her.

Natalie Harp's brother speaks out

The latest controversy intensified after Harp's estranged brother, Preston Harp, spoke to CNN about his sister's long-standing admiration for Trump.

Preston described her as being deeply fascinated by politics and said Trump was not the first president she had written letters to. He recalled that she had previously written to George W. Bush during the Iraq War.

“I think that Trump's best friends are people who are his fan club, and so she's his biggest fan, and that's probably why he likes her,” Preston said, according to the .

He also characterized her devotion to Trump as “delusional”, saying her dream of being close to the president had ultimately come true.

Eric Trump comes to her defence

Trump's son Eric Trump pushed back strongly against the criticism of Harp. Reacting to the CNN interview, Eric described it as “absolute trash” and defended the White House aide's character and work.

“Natalie is an incredible young woman — a cancer survivor, a genuinely good person, and arguably one of the hardest-working people in the White House. She’s deeply committed to my father, to her job, and to this country,” Eric wrote.

He added: “From the looks of it, she got all the family genetics.”

Why Natalie Harp is back in the spotlight

The attention surrounding Harp comes amid growing public interest in Trump's closest aides and the people who accompany him during official duties.

Her long-running role beside Trump, reports about her loyalty and the president's latest comments have combined to make her an increasingly prominent figure around the White House.

For now, the controversy is centred less on Harp's official responsibilities and more on the extraordinary level of trust and personal loyalty that Trump and his family have publicly attributed to her.

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