Natalie Harp, despite being one of U.S. Pres. Donald Trumpās most valued aides, largely remained out of the headlines. But her name became part of the national conversation in August 2026, when it was revealed that she was one of a handful of aides who flew with the president on a surreptitious flight out of Turkey. When Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff mentioned Harp in a campaign speech, her role in the administration came under greater scrutiny, including the fact that she had worked in the White House without a security clearance for a year.
In September 2026, documents released by the White House revealed that Trump had made a "Cash gift for Holidays" to Harp and several other aides. Harpās gift was $45,000 in addition to her government salary of $150,000. The White House defended the gifts as in keeping with the presidentās practice of giving presents to employees. However, government ethics officials questioned with such gifts violate rules against such supplements to government pay.