Natalie Harp: The Trump aide with extraordinary access — and security questions

The New York Times had earlier reported an excerpt in which Harp told Trump, “You are all that matters to me.” CNN has not independently confirmed that Harp wrote or sent the letters.

The letters have put a spotlight on a much bigger question: how much influence does Harp have over the president? Unlike many traditional presidential aides, she works inside the Oval Office, sits in on meetings and remains in contact with Trump for much of the day. CNN reported that foreign leaders sometimes use her as a channel to reach the president, while Trump asks her to contact people he sees on television and relay messages on his behalf.

In the second letter, Harp recalled her time as a host on One America News Network and said she missed the conversations she had with Trump during her show. She also expressed a desire to reconnect with him outside their work-related interactions.

Inside Trump’s inner circle: What Harp actually does

Harp is with Trump for much of the day, sitting in on meetings and remaining in constant contact with him, according to officials familiar with her role who spoke to CNN. Unlike former Trump personal secretary Madeleine Westerhout, who served as a gatekeeper outside the Oval Office during his first term, Harp is often inside the room. She speaks with Trump late into the night about social-media posts, serves as a channel for foreign leaders trying to reach him and is sometimes asked to contact people he sees on television or relay messages on his behalf.

CNN also reported that Harp once rode in the cargo area of an SUV to accompany Trump to a New York court appearance in October 2023. When told there was no room for her in the vehicle, she insisted that Trump had personally asked her to attend and was determined not to be left behind.

Security questions raised after secret flight

Harp’s visibility increased after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff mentioned her during a campaign speech criticising Trump’s priorities and his frequent travel with the aide. She had also been among a small group of aides who accompanied Trump during a secret aircraft switch in Turkey in July, when the president was moved from Air Force One to a smaller aircraft because of a credible security threat.

White House defends her role

People familiar with Trump’s operation told CNN that Harp’s total loyalty to the president is central to her effectiveness. But her methods have also irked senior aides and, at times, prompted efforts to limit her access to Trump’s inner circle, according to multiple sources.

Harp was seen boarding Marine One with other aides on Friday as Trump departed for South Carolina, marking his first trip since scrutiny of her role began this week. Her presence on the flight was described by CNN as consistent with her near-constant attendance on presidential travel.

Harp joined Trump’s orbit after crediting him with saving her life, and became known during the 2024 campaign as a “human printer” for carrying a portable printer to hand him documents. In one of her letters, she referenced the nickname, describing a trip to Scotland and Ireland where Trump encouraged her to set the habit aside and take time to rest.