The White House on Saturday branded a journalist a “sick, deluded freak” over a post made about President Donald Trump’s close aide Natalie Harp. Journalist Aaron Rupar shared a photo of Harp at a welcome function for Trump at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Dublin following the president's arrival in Ireland on Saturday. The White House’s rapid response account fired back, writing: “President Trump does, in fact, travel with staff.
Aaron, on the other hand, is a sick, deluded freak (in his 40s) who sits behind a keyboard and posts creepy things like this.” Rupar replied: “The taxpayer-funded White House incitement account is now attacking me for [checks notes] being in my 40s.” Harp has been a constant presence by Trump’s side for years, but her relationship with the president has come under the spotlight in the weeks since Senator Jon Ossoff mentioned her by name in a speech criticizing Trump's work habits. The Georgia Democrat accused Trump of wanting to "travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar,” referring to reports that Harp was among the small group of people who joined Trump when he secretly swapped planes while leaving Turkey in July due to a threat from Iran. Ossoff’s remark prompted a sharp response from the White House, leading to fresh attention on her influence in the administration.
She made headlines again last week when new financial disclosures released by the Trump administration revealed the president gave holiday cash gifts of $45,000 to Harp and two other aides, raising legal and ethics concerns. A White House official told Newsweek that the gifts were not related to the recipients’ official government duties and “therefore are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.” This is a developing story.
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