Donald Trump’s trip to Ireland ended with a familiar aide beside him and a notable absence at home. Natalie Harp accompanied the president all the way back to the White House, while First Lady Melania Trump remained away from the two-day overseas trip.
Natalie Harp spotted with Donald Trump after Ireland trip
Natalie Harp, 35, landed with Trump at Joint Base Andrews shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday after flying aboard Air Force One. The pair then boarded Marine One, where photographs showed Harp seated next to the 80-year-old president before they returned to the White House together.
The aide had remained close to Trump throughout his Irish visit. According to The Daily Beast, the president met Irish President Catherine Connolly and Prime Minister Micheál Martin before heading to his Doonbeg golf course to watch the Irish Open. Several Trump family members, including Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., also made the journey with their wives and children.
Melania, however, stayed behind. Trump addressed her absence himself during a Saturday speech in Dublin, telling the crowd that his wife was “here in spirit.” He recalled asking her to join him and joked that the seven-hour journey might have been too much for her, quoting her response: “Maybe I’m not that friendly.”
Natalie Harp’s unusual access to Trump has sparked scrutiny well before now. The executive assistant makes $150,000 a year and has earned the moniker “human printer” for carrying a portable printer wherever Trump goes, providing him with emails, articles, and other material. Harp has also penned personal notes to the president.
Reports about Harp’s close relationship with Trump have previously drawn attention, although the White House has pushed back against speculation about the nature of their relationship. Melania’s top spokesman, Marc Beckman, pushed back last week against speculation surrounding Harp. Speaking to The Daily Beast, he called the coverage “ridiculous” and said the media should stop focusing on gossip about the Trump family’s private lives.
