Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp and two other aides, public records show

September 9, 2026

President Donald Trump provided substantial holiday cash gifts totaling $157,000 to four White House staffers, with his close aide Natalie Harp and two others receiving $45,000 each, while longtime aide Walt Nauta received $22,000. The White House maintains these presents were personal holiday gifts unrelated to official duties and permissible under federal ethics rules, though federal employees are generally barred from receiving compensation for their work. The four recipients are considered among Trump's most loyal and closest aides, including Harp who manages his social media posts and Nauta who previously faced dismissed charges alongside Trump regarding classified documents.

Who is affected

Natalie Harp (received $45,000)
Margo Martin (received $45,000)
Chamberlain Harris (received $45,000)
Walt Nauta (received $22,000)
The other 91 White House staff members who did not receive gifts
President Donald Trump (as the gift giver)

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The article discusses gifts that were already given and disclosed through financial documents that have been released.

Why it matters

This situation matters because it raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and ethical boundaries in government service. While the White House claims the gifts are legal personal presents unrelated to official duties, they blur the line between permissible social gifts and compensation, which federal employees are prohibited from receiving for their work. The unprecedented nature of a sitting president giving substantial cash gifts to select staff members contributes to public perception concerns about conflicts of interest within the administration. The selective nature of the gifts—going only to Trump's closest aides while excluding 91 other staff members—also raises questions about favoritism and the relationship between personal loyalty and official government service.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC