Former President Donald Trump provided $45,000 in cash gifts to each of three female White House aides as holiday presents, according to newly released financial disclosures.
Natalie Harp, 35, Chamberlain Harris, 26, and Margo Martin, 31, collectively received $135,000 from Trump, identified as a "cash gift for the holidays." The disclosures indicate these gifts were given on top of their taxpayer-funded salaries, which were reported as $150,000 annually. The value of each gift represented approximately 30 percent of their government pay.
Harp, a former One America News host who joined Trump's team in 2022, serves as his personal secretary. She is known for accompanying Trump with a portable printer to provide him with paper copies of news articles and social media posts. Her close proximity to the former president has drawn media attention, including comments from Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in August, who suggested Trump prioritized spending time with Harp over his official duties.
Ossoff's remarks referenced an incident in Turkey where Harp was among a small group of aides Trump kept with him as he departed Air Force One for a decoy jet amid an Iranian assassination threat, while other senior officials remained on the larger aircraft.
Harris works as an executive assistant to Trump and holds the position of deputy director of Oval Office operations. Martin serves as the president's communications adviser, traveling with him and creating videos for his social media accounts.
A White House spokesperson told Politico that Trump has a "longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides, both in government and in his time in the private sector." The spokesperson added that "the gifts at issue here have nothing to do with any of these individuals’ official government duties, and, therefore, are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards."
Another recipient mentioned in the disclosures is Walt Nauta, director of Oval Office operations, who received a $20,000 holiday gift from Trump. Nauta previously served as Trump's valet and body man during his first term and was also among the few aides who accompanied him during the Turkey incident.
The specific nature of these cash gifts to Trump's close staff remains undisclosed. Harp's close relationship with Trump has reportedly raised concerns within the Secret Service and Trump's inner circle. Personal letters written by Harp to Trump in 2023, reviewed by The New York Times, revealed sentiments such as "You are all that matters to me" and referred to him as her "Guardian and Protector in this Life."