# Natalie Harp - uh, what is going on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 21, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473 "2026-08-21T18:52:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/141 "2026-09-02T23:27:38Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > [Listen to Donald Trump recount how his 17-year-old daughter made him ‘swear’ not to date someone younger than her | The Week](https://theweek.com/speedreads/652309/listen-donald-trump-recount-how-17yearold-daughter-made-swear-not-date-someone-younger-than) Trump, who likes negative attention, said this on the Howard Stern show in 1999. Maybe Trump was honest that time. Maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/142 "2026-09-02T23:50:27Z")
Trump, when asked what he had in common with Ivanka, answered, “sex”. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/143 "2026-09-03T00:32:28Z")
WHA? WTF was that supposed to mean? On second thought, don’t tell me… 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/144 "2026-09-03T00:41:51Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > WHA? WTF was that supposed to mean? > > On second thought, don’t tell me… 🤢 > **[Donald Trump's 'disgusting' answer about what he has in common with Ivanka...](https://www.europesays.com/people/129595/)** > > A resurfaced video of Donald Trump claiming that "sex" is what he has most in common with his daughter Ivanka has gone viral, with viewers branding the ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/145 "2026-09-03T01:25:33Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I don’t think she cares. Do you? @DWMarch I saw what you did there. Well played! ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/146 "2026-09-03T17:18:13Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Ivanka made donald promise he wouldn’t fuck anybody younger than her, so that’s how we know for sure this relationship is purely platonic Sure it wasn’t that he wouldn’t keep…younger than her? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/147 "2026-09-03T19:36:04Z")
Back to Natalie: this site may not be as respectable as I would like, so the link is to a Bluesky post about it rather than to the site itself. The theory seems fairly plausible: > [@](#): > > Moments to Remember | News @moments2remember.link > > CAMERA CATCHES THE DYNAMIC: Repeated Sidelong Looks at 35-Year-Old Assistant Spark Fresh Analysis of Trump’s Emotional Reliance > “CONSTANT ADMIRATION”: Psychologist Says President Seeks Immediate Feedback From Smiling Aide During Space Station Call During a recent visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, a moment captured on camera appeared to highlight the emotional dynamics between President Donald Trump and his assistant, Natalie Harp. The NYT’s Maggie Haberman has said that Natalie is Donald’s binky (comfort blanket). Seems pretty accurate. > **[Moments to Remember | News (@moments2remember.link)](https://bsky.app/profile/moments2remember.link/post/3muksvb44cs2y)** > > CAMERA CATCHES THE DYNAMIC: Repeated Sidelong Looks at 35-Year-Old Assistant Spark Fresh Analysis of Trump’s Emotional Reliance > https://wp.me/p8nX2G-gS3 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/148 "2026-09-03T19:39:43Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > The NYT’s Maggie Haberman has said that Natalie is Donald’s binky (comfort blanket). Seems pretty accurate. I would say so. We first heard of Natalie as the lady who follows him around, printing and showing him articles and tweets favorable to Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/149 "2026-09-03T19:45:21Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > printing and showing him articles and tweets favorable to Trump. Yes, which does (of course) feed and support his ego. But apparently it goes further, with Donald _ **needing** _ to see approval on the faces around him for everything he says and does. And Natalie is the first face he looks to. Donald is infamously an emotional black hole. If not supported every second with smiles of approval, he can’t function. (And wouldn’t we all be better off!) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/150 "2026-09-03T21:18:53Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > binky (comfort blanket) I always thought that a binky was a pacifier. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/151 "2026-09-03T21:32:53Z")
Widen your scope. > A **binky** most commonly refers to a baby’s pacifier, a happy leaping jump performed by a rabbit, or a comforting security object for a child. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/152 "2026-09-03T21:34:36Z")
Not to mention Death’s horse. And thanks. I come here to have my scope widened. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/153 "2026-09-08T17:07:13Z")
This part might be new [bolding mine]: > Natalie Harp, the president’s favorite White House aide **who earns $150,000 a year as an executive assistant** , is widely credited with assisting Trump’s social media output. [**Daily Beast - likely paywalled**](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-triggers-international-incident-with-deranged-iceland-truth-social-post/) Buck-and-a-half, huh? I don’t think I would have guessed (anywhere near) that high. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/154 "2026-09-08T17:22:13Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > This part might be new [bolding mine]: > > > Natalie Harp, the president’s favorite White House aide **who earns $150,000 a year as an executive assistant** , is widely credited with assisting Trump’s social media output. > > [**Daily Beast - likely paywalled**](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-triggers-international-incident-with-deranged-iceland-truth-social-post/) > > Buck-and-a-half, huh? I don’t think I would have guessed (anywhere near) that high. It’s not his (i.e. Trump’s) money being spent paying her salary, so why would he care? ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/155 "2026-09-08T18:33:43Z")
It always has been in my world. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/156 "2026-09-09T16:04:14Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > This part might be new [bolding mine]: > > > Natalie Harp, the president’s favorite White House aide **who earns $150,000 a year as an executive assistant** , is widely credited with assisting Trump’s social media output. > > [**Daily Beast - likely paywalled**](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-triggers-international-incident-with-deranged-iceland-truth-social-post/) > > Buck-and-a-half, huh? I don’t think I would have guessed (anywhere near) that high. Plus a _ **$45,000** _ (likely illegal) bonus last year! > [@Washington Post](#): > > ### Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp, two other close aides > > President Donald Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to his executive assistant [Natalie Harp](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/18/what-know-about-natalie-harp-trump-aide-whom-ossoff-put-spotlight/ "https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/18/what-know-about-natalie-harp-trump-aide-whom-ossoff-put-spotlight/") and two of his other young, loyal White House employees, according to financial disclosures released by the administration. > > On their disclosure forms, which were released publicly late last week, the three women described the payments as “Cash Gift for Holidays.” The gifts amount to about one-third of the $150,000 salaries they each earn from their White House positions, according to an [annual report](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Annual-Report-to-Congress-on-White-House-Staff.pdf "https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-Annual-Report-to-Congress-on-White-House-Staff.pdf") to Congress. > > Richard Painter, the former chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush and a critic of Trump, said the payments [appear to violate](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/209 "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/209") a federal statute that prohibits the supplementation of federal employees’ salaries from outside sources. Gift link: [https://wapo.st/4xM3pq0](https://wapo.st/4xM3pq0) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/157 "2026-09-09T16:47:24Z")
That’s a pretty expensive umm… evening. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/158 "2026-09-09T16:51:21Z")
> [@Washington Post](#): > > salaries they each earn from their White House positions Innovative positions, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/159 "2026-09-09T18:30:11Z")
He paid that much to Stormy for 1 NDA. If nothing else… his negotiating skills have improved with age. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/160 "2026-09-09T19:17:46Z")
I would have thought refusing to get a security clearance would be the same as a resignation. How she would be allowed by the SS to run around the WH without one is curious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473.md?page=9)