During a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, former President Donald Trump called his aide Natalie Harp to the stage to present him with an executive order aimed at easing restrictions on tax-exempt diesel fuel. Trump signed the order and then handed it back to Harp.
After Harp left the stage, Trump remarked that she reminded him of a model on the television game show "The Price Is Right." The long-running show is known for its models who present prizes, a role that was historically filled by women. Trump suggested the scenario could be adapted for a television show, saying, "We should go on television with this show, right?"
Harp is frequently seen accompanying the former president. The New York Times has described her role with Trump as akin to a "human comfort blanket" or "binkie." She has been noted for her proximity to Trump, including being one of three aides who reportedly left Air Force One via a secret aircraft due to a security threat. In another reported instance, she allegedly jumped into the trunk of an SUV to remain near Trump.
Harp has also been described as having written "devotional letters" to Trump, referring to him as her "Guardian and Protector in this Life."
Critics voiced disapproval of the incident, particularly in light of other national events. Sofia B. Kinzinger, writing on X (formerly Twitter), expressed dismay, stating, "As women across the country have spent the past week in horror trying to process the Cornell case… here we have our president parading his assistant—a young woman—onstage to troll the press."
The executive order Trump signed addresses concerns over rising fuel prices. The order aims to allow the sale of tax-exempt diesel, a measure Trump linked to what he described as soaring fuel prices due to a "war in Iran."