Allegations that White House aide Natalie Harp once traveled in the trunk of an SUV to accompany Donald Trump to court have surfaced amid a heated political dispute between the Trump campaign and Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff.
The claim, reported by CNN and detailed in Daily Mail, suggests Harp made the unconventional journey during an October 2023 trip to a New York City courtroom. According to anonymous sources cited in the report, the incident occurred after Harp insisted on attending a legal proceeding, and when no room was available in the vehicle, she allegedly opted to ride in the trunk.
This account was presented as an example of Harp's perceived fervent loyalty to Trump. A source described Trump as appreciating her "100 percent commitment and loyalty," noting that she "doesn't question, doesn't second guess."
The controversy intensified when Ossoff referenced Harp during a Sunday rally for his Senate reelection campaign. He stated, "[Trump] 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."
The Trump campaign responded sharply to Ossoff's remarks. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle criticized Ossoff's character and voting record, calling his rhetoric "cringeworthy" and his voting record "dangerous."
Communications Director Steven Cheung also issued a strong rebuke, labeling Ossoff a "cuck loser" and a "radical, extremist Dumocrat." Trump himself reportedly referred to Ossoff as a "Pee-wee Herman lookalike."
In a subsequent interview, Ossoff explained his reference to Harp, stating he views her as one of Trump's "enablers" and a "security blanket." He suggested that some senior aides tell Trump "what he wants to hear" rather than "what he needs to hear."
Sources close to the White House told Semafor that they considered Ossoff's statement a "cheap shot," with concerns it could upset First Lady Melania Trump. A person close to the White House indicated that "the first lady doesn’t like these types of things" and that Trump "does get furious" about personal attacks.
Harp has been described as one of Trump's longest-serving and most trusted aides, often carrying news articles for him and taking dictation for his Truth Social posts. She has been called Trump's "connective tissue," with some suggesting she has more access than his chief of staff.
Her brother, Preston Harp, who has spoken critically of her role, described her relationship with Trump as "very unhealthy" in a past interview. He expressed surprise upon learning of her work with Trump, stating he had "no idea" she was employed by him.