Why is the White House being so weird about Natalie Harp again? | Arwa Mahdawi
The White House communications team reacted aggressively to a journalist's post about President Trump's aide Natalie Harp accompanying him to Ireland. This response amplified media attention on Harp, who had previously become a subject of public scrutiny following a viral comment by a Democratic senator. The article questions whether this behavior is a deliberate distraction tactic or simply a result of poor professional judgment by the administration's staff.
- ▪Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old assistant to Donald Trump, traveled with the president to Ireland for a golf trip and meetings with local leaders.
- ▪The White House's Rapid Response 47 account attacked journalist Aaron Rupar for posting a photo of Harp, calling him a 'sick, deluded freak.'
- ▪Trump previously gave Harp and two other female aides a $45,000 cash gift for a holiday, contributing to public interest in their relationship.
- ▪Arwa Mahdawi argues that the administration's reaction to the journalist's post was unprofessional and likely amplified the story unnecessarily.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — US |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/16/why-is-the-white-house-being-so-weird-about-natalie-harp-again |
| Publication time | Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:00:17 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-16T10:08:41.524Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-16T10:08:41.524Z |
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| Publisher visit | Yes — open original |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Subject of intrigue … Natalie Harp and Donald Trump. Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenSubject of intrigue … Natalie Harp and Donald Trump. Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesOpinionDonald TrumpWhy is the White House being so weird about Natalie Harp again?Arwa MahdawiThe president’s assistant travelled with him to Ireland – which really shouldn’t be much of a story. But his comms team seems determined to make it oneWed 16 Sep 2026 06.00 EDTLast modified on Wed 16 Sep 2026 06.01 EDTSharePassport, money, emotional support human: Donald Trump had all the travel essentials on his recent trip to Ireland. The president flew into Dublin on Saturday morning to play golf, meet the country’s leaders and make provocative comments about unification.
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