Donald Trump‘s close relationship with his special assistant Natalie Harp has been heavily scrutinized by the public, and a top advisor to his wife, Melania Trump, is pushing back against so-called “tabloid gossip.”
Marc Beckman, an exclusive senior advisor and spokesperson for the first lady, defended the aide at the center of rumors surrounding the first family in a YouTube interview with MAGA host Stella Escobedo.
His defense comes amid major attention on Melania Trump’s limited appearances besides her husband, while Harp is constantly around him and even receiving a $45,000 cash gift from the president.
Speaking on “Stella News” with Escobedo, after the host brought up the media coverage surrounding Harp and her relationship with Trump, Beckman took it upon himself to address the speculations.
According to a report, Escobedo called the extensive media coverage “garbage tabloid gossip.”
She described Harp as “a loyal, hardworking White House aide to president Turmp—a cancer survivor—who POTUS helped get off labeled treatment for and saved her life.”
Beckman replied, saying the “liberal media is ridiculous” and asserting that “they don’t know anything about the first lady’s personal and private life.”
He criticized the media for focusing so much on gossip about Harp rather than on the “incredible achievements” that the first lady and Trump have accomplished this year.
As for Harp, Beckman described her as “hardworking, very talented, very intelligent” and accused the media of attacking the aide because of her proximity to President Trump.
Beckman said, “What they need to do is look in the mirror because they’re all attacking this hardworking, very talented, very intelligent person in Natalie Harp.”
MAGA Host Argues There’s Nothing Wrong With Donald Trump And Natalie Harp’s Relationship
Harp’s unusual relationship with the president has raised a lot of speculation concerning her role in the White House and her closeness with the president, with 42 percent of Americans wanting answers, per a poll by the Daily Mail.
Escobedo, however, believes that there is “nothing wrong with their relationship” and people should “get over it.”
Harp, 35, has served as a special assistant to the president of the United States since the beginning of his current administration.
Before joining the White House, she had a brief stint in conservative media at One America News Network (OANN), where she became known for her very public support for Trump.
She first gained significant attention when she credited Trump’s “Right to Try” act with giving her access to experimental treatment that saved her life after she was diagnosed with bone cancer.
Harp is constantly spotted around the president while his first lady is increasingly absent near him.
Natalie Harp’s Personal Letters To Donald Trump Have Raised Eyebrows
The 35-year-old has since been nicknamed the “Human Printer” because she carries a portable printer she uses to bring Trump printed news and social-media posts, which is his preferred way to consume information.
Letters attributed to Harp added to the speculations surrounding what kind of relationship she shares with the president.
According to Time, the letters reportedly included sentiments such as, “You are all that matters to me” and “I don’t ever want to let you down.” She referred to Trump as her “Guardian and Protector in this Life.”
The personal messages, as well as her constant presence and Melania’s growing absence around Trump, are all part of the broader public speculation revolving around their relationship.
$45,000 Gift Brings Even More Attention To Donald Trump And Natalie Harp’s Relationship
According to People Magazine, Trump reportedly gifted $45,000 in cash to Harp as well as deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris, 26, and communications adviser Margo Martin, 31.
The White House has described the payments as personal holiday gifts. In a statement, they said, “The president has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides.”
They added that the gifts are “permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards” because they have nothing to do with the recipients’ government duties.
The director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta reportedly received a gift of $20,000. He makes a salary of $175,000, a quarter of a 100 grand more than the annual salaries of Harp, Harris, and Martin.
Melania Trump’s Fostering The Future Initiative Should Be More Of A Focus
Beckman, in his interview with Escobedo, brought attention to the first lady’s foster care initiative, which she built in 2021 after an experience with the foster care community in the White House during the 45th presidential administration.
The program is a platform that helps young adults leaving the foster care system have access to the tools and services they would need to build a future.
The initiative secures scholarship opportunities at colleges and universities nationwide for individuals within the foster care community. They reportedly have 26 schools across the country offering academic aid as part of the program.
As First Lady Melania put it, “America’s foster youth are not defined by their circumstances — they are defined by their potential.”
