Referred to as "Sweety" with a close relationship... Former Broadcaster Woman Emerges as a Key Figure in the White House

Role of Conveying Various Information to Trump

In the second Trump White House, a 33-year-old female aide is emerging as the true 'power behind the door.'

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The US daily New York Times (NYT) highlighted Natalie Harp on the 25th (local time), who has been assisting Trump with composing text messages and social media posts since 2022, as well as delivering various articles and gossip circulating online. NYT introduced, "Trump has always demanded loyalty from his staff, but few have met that demand like Harp."

Harp's connection with Trump began in 2019. She revealed on the conservative media outlet Fox News that she had bone cancer but was able to save her life thanks to a law broadly allowing clinical trials, which Trump signed during his first term in 2018. As a result, Trump invited Harp to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention. Harp left her position as a host at the far-right broadcaster One America News Network and joined Trump's staff in 2022.

During this election, Harp closely assisted Trump. According to NYT, when Trump was playing golf in Scotland, she ran behind his cart to deliver positive articles and social media posts. Carrying a portable printer and a battery pack, she followed Trump, printing and providing various information as he wished. Because of this, Harp was nicknamed the 'human printer' among colleagues.

NYT assessed that Harp's loyalty to Trump appears to be at the level of 'worship' or 'adoration.' Trump reportedly calls Harp 'sweetie' and treats her like a daughter. Steven Cheung, the spokesperson for the next White House and former Trump campaign spokesperson, evaluated Harp as "trusted and valued." Based on Trump's trust, Harp is expected to wield a powerful 'power behind the door' influence in the next White House, incomparable to any other presidential aide.

NYT pointed out that some of Trump's close associates express concern about the close relationship between Harp and Trump. They want stricter control over the information Trump receives, but Harp delivers information that pleases him as is.

NYT cited sources observing Harp's behavior, reporting that one of her frequently used news sources is the far-right conspiracy theory site 'Gateway Pundit,' and that she sometimes arranged Trump's media interviews without the official press team's knowledge.