Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old aide to former President Donald Trump, has become a focal point of political discussion due to her close proximity and apparent devotion to the former president. Her role, which involves instantly providing Trump with printed updates of positive coverage, has earned her the nickname 'the human printer.'
Her public profile increased following a remark by Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, who questioned Trump's focus on presidential duties, suggesting he preferred traveling with Harp on a plane purportedly gifted by Qatar. Ossoff later clarified he mentioned Harp because she had been described in the media as Trump's 'security blanket,' and expressed concern that aides like her might not be providing Trump with necessary, unvarnished feedback.
The reaction from Trump's team to Ossoff's comments, including a strong social media rebuke of a CNN reporter who asked about it, has intensified speculation about Harp's influence.
Harp joined Trump's staff in 2022, with her loyalty reportedly surprising even close associates, particularly after the January 6 Capitol attack. Her written communications to Trump, detailed in books by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, express profound devotion. Trump himself has described Harp as loving him as much as his wife and children.
Political journalist Alex Isenstadt noted Harp's determination to deliver printed updates, recounting an instance where she was found by Melania Trump late at night in Trump's private quarters at Mar-a-Lago, a typically off-limits area for staff. While no impropriety was suggested, the anecdote highlights Harp's access and dedication.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff described Harp as a 'one-woman conduit of information operating entirely outside the usual chain of command,' and suggested that people around Trump were baffled by her rise before the 2024 election, with some considering her 'dangerous' due to her influence. The White House responded to Wolff's claims by calling him a 'professional scumbag and serial liar.'
Harp's commitment was further demonstrated when she reportedly squeezed into the boot of an SUV to accompany Trump to a New York court appearance, after being unable to secure a seat in the official vehicles.
Raised in a conservative household by a single mother, Harp's political views align with those of Trump. Her estranged brother, a self-described Communist, has called her relationship with Trump 'very unhealthy' and attributed it to an infatuation with Trump's perceived global dominance.
Harp first came to Trump's attention in 2019 after an interview on Fox News where she advocated for his healthcare policies. She addressed the 2020 Republican National Convention, stating Trump had saved her life. Following her father's death by suicide, she and her mother moved to Florida to be closer to Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, with reports suggesting she sometimes slept in the women's changing rooms at his golf club to remain near him.
She worked for One America News Network before taking on her current role. As 'Special Assistant to the President and Executive Assistant to the President,' with a reported salary of £110,000, Harp is involved in composing content for Trump's social media platform, Truth Social. These posts have reportedly included controversial material, such as reposting a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes and an AI-generated image of Trump as Jesus Christ.
Despite reassurances from Trump insiders that he views Harp as a paternal figure, Trump's past comments about his daughter Ivanka have led some to remain skeptical about the nature of his relationships with younger women in his orbit.