# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/161 "2026-09-09T20:12:54Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I would have thought refusing to get a security clearance would be the same as a resignation. My understanding is that she didn’t have one for a long time; this Guardian article indicates that she refused to submit the forms, but I’m guessing that Trump and his sycophants didn’t bother to purse the matter. Regardless, in recent weeks, when her role became much more visible, and both the White House counsel and Trump got involved, did the application get submitted, and approved. > **[White House faces questions over security clearance for top Trump aide...](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/20/natalie-harp-security-clearance)** > > Former ethics tsar calls report that executive assistant to president worked for a year without clearance ‘shocking’ ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/162 "2026-09-09T21:40:56Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I can easily imagine Melania having the attitude that if Natalie wants to tend to those needs for him, she’s welcome to it because Melania sure isn’t going to do it. She certainly wouldn’t be the first. Wives of rich and powerful mean have had this attitude since the dawn of history. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/163 "2026-09-09T23:02:09Z")
It would take a lot more than 150,000 or me to follow that that pig around. Although it seems as though she _likes_ it. ewwwwww!!! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/164 "2026-09-09T23:08:20Z")
Regarding the $150,000 that Natalie Harp was being paid, my understanding is that many high-level government jobs don’t pay nearly as much as they might earn in a private sector job. So that someone appointed to Attorney General or the federal judiciary might be giving up a more lucrative law firm partnership. Similarly, someone who leaves a high-level position can get more money elsewhere. Eric Holder, the attorney general under President Obama, for example, is [senior counsel at Covington & Burling LLP](https://www.cov.com/en/professionals/h/eric-holder). I would not be surprised if his salary is north of a million dollars a year. So any normal person appointed to a high-level White House role might be able to move onto a private sector position paying much more. (Of course in part this is due to their ability to bend the ear of those in power.) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/165 "2026-09-09T23:28:54Z")
That applies only to people who are qualified for their jobs. Others end up on Faux News and the like. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/166 "2026-09-09T23:57:29Z")
I’m not sure the “human printer” is even qualified to appear on Faux News. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/167 "2026-09-10T00:04:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I would not be surprised if his salary is north of a million dollars a year. I think you can bet the ranch on that. ---
**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 10, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/168 "2026-09-10T00:39:07Z")
She’s blonde and reasonably attractive. She’s perfect for Faux. Given the vituperous outcry at Ossoff’s bland dig, I’d guess she resides in many a MAGA spankbank. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/169 "2026-09-10T00:43:30Z")
So it’s illegal for federal employees to accept cash payments in addition to their salaries. Yet she will never be prosecuted or investigated for this because one party has decided that rules no longer apply. Even a change in party control will not mean a damn thing as she is positively assured of a pardon near the end of the this lawless administration. ---
**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 10, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/170 "2026-09-10T01:00:28Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’m not sure the “human printer” is even qualified to appear on Faux News. > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > She’s blonde and reasonably attractive. She’s perfect for Faux. She was previously an anchor on One America News Network (OAN): > **[Natalie Harp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Harp)** > > Natalie Harp (born 1991) is an American political aide and former television anchor who has served as special assistant and executive assistant to the president of the United States since 2025. In 2019, Harp received attention after praising President Donald Trump for signing into law a federal right-to-try law which she said had saved her life. Trump invited Harp to serve as a member of the advisory board for his 2020 presidential campaign and to speak at the 2020 Republican National Conven... ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/171 "2026-09-12T04:33:31Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > …MAGA spankbank. Ewww 🤢 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/172 "2026-09-12T04:52:46Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Seriously? I can’t imagine the kind of family in which a woman discusses the subject with her father. :Raises hand: A toxic one, for sure. But yeah, if you had a Dad who was single in the 80’s, it was a conversation, and I imagine it probably still is. One of my high school friends went home for Summer break to find his Dad had moved in a girlfriend only a year older than he was (so 18). ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/173 "2026-09-12T05:13:11Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I always thought that a binky was a pacifier. I always think of binky as coming from “blanky” or “blanket.” but it can be any comforting object. As for Natalie’s salary, it’s not at all unusual for an executive assistant in downtown DC. A safe 1br apartment costs $2,400 a month, and she needs to be close to the WH, so probably more like $3k. She can’t just move in to the residence, she has to maintain an apt. downtown. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/174 "2026-09-12T15:43:22Z")
Can’t she just live in the locker room? ---
**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 12, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/175 "2026-09-12T16:40:51Z")
There’s a fair amount of space under the desk in the O.O. Move in there like George Costanza did. ---
**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 12, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/176 "2026-09-12T19:54:07Z")
There was one desk with a door in front that JFK Jr. was shown playing in. That would be perfect. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/177 "2026-09-12T20:23:47Z")
A friend pointed out that $150k is not unheard of in DC for a nanny to a special needs child. Probably a better comparison. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/178 "2026-09-12T21:15:54Z")
Imagine changing his diaper. I’m so sorry I made you all think of that… ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/179 "2026-09-12T22:20:04Z")
When I’m at work and my job sucks I imagine changing Trump’s diaper instead, and every time I feel much better about my job. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473/180 "2026-09-12T22:23:29Z")
Oh god, I’m doomed to think of this now. Thanks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natalie-harp-uh-what-is-going-on/1032473.md?page=10)