Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to three White House aides, sparking ethics debate over salary law
Former President Donald Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts each to three female aides—Natalie Harp, Margo Martin, and Chamberlain Harris—during the 2025 holiday season, according to financial disclosures. The gifts, which also included $20,000 to Walt Nauta, have raised legal concerns. A former White House ethics lawyer argued the payments may violate a federal statute against supplementing administrative salaries from outside sources, though a White House official defended them as permissible holiday gifts.
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Trump gave $45,000 holiday gifts to Natalie Harp and other White House aides
Multiple news outlets report that former President Donald Trump gave $45,000 holiday gifts to Natalie Harp and other White House aides. The Washington Post specifies that cash gifts were given to Harp and two other close aides. Mother Jones describes the gift as mysterious, while the Financial Times calls it a holiday bonus. MS NOW raises questions about the legality of these gifts. The Guardian also reports on the story. The reports suggest the gifts were substantial and have drawn scrutiny regarding their appropriateness and legal standing.
Trump Gave $45,000 Cash Gifts to Three White House Aides Last Christmas
A post from the Wall Street Journal reports that former President Donald Trump gave cash gifts of $45,000 each to three White House aides last Christmas. The recipients included executive assistant Natalie Harp. The post, shared on X, cites the information with links to further details. The gifts were reportedly given during the holiday season of the previous year, highlighting a personal gesture from the former president to his staff members. The exact timing and context of the gifts, as well as the identities of the other two aides, are not specified in the post. This disclosure adds to the public record of Trump's interactions with his White House personnel.
Trump confidante Natalie Harp receives $45,000 Christmas bonus, sparking legal debate
Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old personal assistant and close confidante of US President Donald Trump, received a one-time payment of $45,000 from Trump as a Christmas gift, according to a report by German newspaper taz. The payment has sparked debate among legal experts, with a lawyer telling the Washington Post that the gift may have violated laws prohibiting the supplementation of government employee salaries. The White House press office stated the payment was unrelated to Harp's official duties. Harp, who has worked for Trump since 2022, is known as 'the human printer' for carrying a portable printer to provide the president with information. She previously worked as a news anchor for the right-wing One America News network and has promoted Trump's false claims about the 2020 election being stolen. Harp credits Trump with saving her life through a 2018 law that gave her access to experimental cancer treatments. The article notes that Harp's access to Trump appears almost unrestricted, and she was among a select few evacuated with Trump from Turkey during a security threat.
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Trump's $45,000 Cash Gifts to Aides Raise Ethics Concerns and Scrutiny
The New Republic reports that President Donald Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to three female aides, including Natalie Harp, Margo Martin, and Chamberlain Harris, during the 2025 holiday season, according to financial disclosures obtained by The Washington Post. The gifts, equal to nearly a third of Harp's $150,000 salary, also included $20,000 to Walt Nauta. A White House official defended the payments as permissible holiday gifts unrelated to official duties, but former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter argued they may violate a federal statute against supplementing administrative salaries from outside sources. The article highlights Harp's unusually close relationship with Trump, including adoring letters, her role as his constant social media proxy, and her inclusion in a secret plane transfer during an Iranian missile threat, which has drawn public and political backlash.
Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp and two other close aides
Former President Donald Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to three close female aides, including Natalie Harp, according to financial disclosures reported by multiple news outlets. The Washington Post, New York Times, CBS News, Financial Times, and People.com all covered the story, describing the payments as holiday bonuses or cash gifts. The disclosures reveal that Trump provided the substantial sums to Harp and two other unnamed aides last year. The reports highlight the unusual nature of such large cash gifts from a former president to staff members, raising questions about financial practices and transparency. The story has been widely circulated across major news organizations, indicating significant media interest in Trump's financial dealings with his inner circle.
Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to three White House aides last Christmas
A post from the Wall Street Journal reports that former President Donald Trump gave cash gifts of $45,000 each to three White House aides last Christmas. The recipients were executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin, and Chamberlain Harris, the deputy director of Oval Office operations. The post, shared on X, cites a linked article for further details. This disclosure highlights the nature of holiday gifts within the Trump White House, involving significant sums of money given to close staff members. The event occurred during the Christmas season of the previous year, as stated in the post.