Natalie Harp has become one of Donald Trump’s closest aides. Her growing role in the White House has drawn fresh public attention after a recent clash between Trump’s team and a Democratic senator.
Harp, 35, is a former cancer patient advocate from California. She first gained national attention after speaking in support of Trump at the 2020 Republican National Convention.
She later became a key member of Trump’s political team. Her official role is special assistant to the president and executive assistant to the president. Her listed annual salary is $150,000.
Harp is also known for carrying a small printer and giving Trump printed news and other information. During Trump’s 2024 campaign, some colleagues called her the human printer.
Her work has made her a regular presence around Trump. She is often seen near him during trips, meetings and public events.
Harp’s connection with Trump began several years ago. In 2019, she wrote about her experience with bone cancer and praised Trump for supporting the Right to Try law.
The law allows some seriously ill patients to seek access to certain experimental treatments. Harp said the policy helped her find treatment options that she believed were not offered to her before.
Her story attracted attention from Fox News. Trump also praised her publicly and highlighted her cancer experience.
In 2020, Harp spoke at the Republican National Convention. She credited Trump with helping her access treatment and said she believed she would not be alive without his support.
However, a later report questioned whether Trump had played a direct role in her medical treatment. Medical experts cited in that report said the treatment and timing described by Harp made such a link unlikely.
Harp later moved from California to Florida with her mother. She joined One America News Network in 2020 and worked as a presenter.
While at the network, she promoted Trump’s claims that the 2020 election had been stolen. She left the network in 2022 and began working directly for Trump.
Her role grew during Trump’s campaign to return to the White House. She often stayed close to him and provided printed information during his travels.
The New York Times reported in 2024 that Harp followed Trump with a portable printer and a battery pack. The setup allowed her to quickly print material for him because Trump prefers information in paper form.
After Trump returned to the White House, Harp continued to have a prominent role. She has traveled with the president and remained close during major political and security events.
In one recent trip, Harp was among a small group of people who joined Trump on a military aircraft after an alleged security threat. Other staff members and journalists remained on another plane.
Her influence also appears to extend to Trump’s online activity. Reports say she helps prepare material for Trump’s Truth Social account and can publish posts for him.
Books and reports about Trump’s inner circle have also described Harp as deeply loyal to the president. Some accounts say she has written personal letters expressing strong admiration and loyalty toward Trump.
Those reports have brought more attention to the nature of her relationship with Trump. However, public evidence does not establish a romantic relationship between the two.
The latest interest began after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff criticized Trump during a campaign speech. Ossoff said Trump appeared more focused on other matters than his presidential duties and referred to Trump traveling with Harp.
The comment sparked strong reactions online. Trump also criticized a CNN reporter after she asked about the remark.
The White House response added to the public discussion. Critics said the strong reaction could lead to even more questions about Harp and her position near Trump.
Harp has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with her work for Trump. Much of the current debate concerns her unusual level of access and her close place within the president’s inner circle.
Her career shows how a personal story can lead to a powerful political role. From cancer advocate and television presenter to senior White House aide, Harp has built a close working relationship with Trump.
As Trump continues his second term, her regular presence beside him is likely to keep public attention on her role, influence and access to the president.
