Trump gave $45,000 cash gift to 'human printer' aide

AFP | Washington

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US President Donald Trump gave his executive assistant Natalie Harp a $45,000 cash gift, US media reported.

Two other White House employees, Margo Martin and Chamberlain Harris, received similar amounts, according to the Washington Post.

The three women described the payments as "Cash Gift for Holidays," the Post reported Tuesday, citing financial disclosure forms.

Harp has been a near-constant presence at Trump's side in his second term and has been dubbed the "human printer" -- thanks to her role carrying a portable machine to print out documents that Trump asks for.

She is one of the few officials with direct access to Trump's Truth Social account and types out posts as he dictates them, even inserting his trademark capital letters, according to footage in a 2024 election campaign documentary.

The 35-year-old earns $150,000 a year in her role as the special assistant and executive assistant to the president, according to an annual report to Congress.

A White House spokesperson defended the gifts, citing Trump's "longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides."

The gifts were unrelated to any of the individuals' duties, making them "entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards," the spokesperson said.

Director of White House Oval Office operations Walt Nauta also reported a presidential gift of $20,000, in addition to his annual salary of $175,000, according to the Post.