A new investigation revealed that Natalie Harp, President Donald Trump’s executive assistant, once rode in an SUV trunk after staffers told her the motorcade had no available seats. The October 2023 incident underscores the fierce loyalty that has defined Harp’s rise within Trump’s orbit.
Natalie Harp reportedly had a ‘screaming match’ with staff members
CNN’s Kristen Holmes and Adam Cancryn detailed the previously unreported incident as part of a broader look at Harp’s role inside Trump’s inner circle, where she serves as executive assistant. The confrontation happened as Trump prepared to leave Trump Tower for a New York City courthouse appearance tied to his legal cases.
Staffers reportedly told Harp there wasn’t room for her in the vehicle. Harp pushed back, insisting Trump had personally asked her to join him, which triggered a heated exchange in the lobby, according to two sources. Rather than accept being left behind, Harp got into the trunk of an SUV, a moment the outlet claimed was backed up by both sources and a photo.
The incident reflects a pattern CNN described in Natalie Harp’s approach to staying close to Donald Trump at nearly all times. Her constant presence has reportedly frustrated some senior aides, particularly when advisers seeking one-on-one time with the president find Harp already in the room. One source claimed that Harp has said she answers only to Trump, a stance that has created friction with staffers used to working through the White House’s standard chain of command.
Those tensions have, at times, pushed some aides to try to limit her access, CNN reported, though those efforts haven’t dented her standing with the president. A White House official gave a different take, telling CNN that Harp generally works well with colleagues and regularly coordinates with staff on statements and other communications. White House spokesman Davis Ingle also defended her, calling Harp “one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump’s team.”
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
