Trump gave $45,000 gift to Natalie Harp, 2 other aides, financial disclosures show

September 9, 2026 / 8:16 AM EDT / CBS News

President Trump last year gave cash gifts of $45,000 to aides Natalie Harp, Margo Martin and Chamberlain Harris and a $20,000 gift to Walt Nauta, public financial disclosures show.

A White House spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday that Mr. Trump "has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides, both in government and in his time in the private sector."

In the financial disclosures, the money is labeled as "cash gift for holidays."

"The gifts at issue here have nothing to do with any of these individuals' official government duties, and, therefore, are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards," the spokesperson said.

The gifts were first reported by Politico.

Harp, 35, is a special assistant and executive assistant to the president, and she is frequently seen at Mr. Trump's side. Attention has turned to Harp after Sen. Jon Ossoff said at a rally last month that Mr. Trump would rather "build his ballroom and travel with Natalie" than be president.

Harp started working at the White House as a presidential appointee when Mr. Trump took office…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/