Natalie Harp, 35, a private assistant and trusted aide to former President Donald Trump, was one of the few people who accompanied him while he secretly switched Air Force One planes in Turkey after the NATO summit in July 2026 due to an assassination threat from Iran [1, 2, 3].
Harp, often described as Trump’s "comfort blanket" or "binkie" by journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, plays a crucial role in managing information reaching Trump, especially on social media, and has access to his private Truth Social account [1, 4]. Known as the "human printer," she carries a portable printer to provide Trump with articles and posts he wants to read [1].
She joined Trump’s team formally in 2022 and has since become one of his closest aides, frequently traveling with him and holding a regular seat on Marine One helicopter [5, 4, 6]. Harp survived bone cancer thanks to the 2018 Right to Try Act signed by Trump, which enabled her to receive experimental treatment; Trump invited her to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention after hearing her story [5, 4, 6].
Harp’s dedication has sparked concern among relatives and some aides due to the intensity of her loyalty, evidenced by letters to Trump calling him "my everything" [5, 4, 6, 7]. During a New York court visit in October 2023, she defied protocol by traveling hidden inside the trunk of an SUV to accompany Trump after not being allocated a place in the motorcade [5, 4, 6].
Some aides have criticized her for delivering unchecked or potentially harmful information directly to Trump, including helping release and then delete a controversial video mocking former President Obama [5, 8]. The White House defends her as "one of the most loyal and hardworking aides," with spokesperson Emily Ingle calling criticism politically motivated [4, 6].
Former Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff mocked the relationship between Trump and Harp at a Georgia rally on August 15, 2026, saying Trump "only wants to play golf and trade stocks" and travel with Harp on a "defenseless flying palace given by the Emir of Qatar" [1]. Trump responded to Ossoff’s remarks by telling a CNN reporter to "Be quiet" and shifting focus to praise a boy who rescued someone on a California beach [1].
Since the start of Trump’s second term, Melania Trump has reduced public appearances by about half and missed key events, including the July 22, 2026, Dover Air Force Base ceremony transferring four fallen U.S. soldiers, where Harp and other aides accompanied Trump instead [1, 2, 3, 9, 10].
The secret plane switch in July followed the NATO summit in Turkey and was prompted by the Iran threat, highlighting Harp’s role as a constant presence during critical moments for Trump [1, 2, 3, 4, 6].
