Natalie Harp and Donald Trump: A Timeline of Their Relationship

Natalie Harp has become one of the most recognizable figures in President Donald Trump’s inner circle, frequently accompanying him on trips, helping manage his Truth Social activity and serving as one of his closest aides. But her connection to Trump began years before she entered the White House. Harp, 35, first came to national attention after publicly crediting Trump and his “Right to Try” legislation with helping save her life after being diagnosed with cancer. That advocacy eventually brought her into Trump’s orbit, where she moved from campaign surrogate to television host, then campaign aide and, ultimately, executive assistant to the president. Her role has come under renewed scrutiny this week after comments by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who referenced Harp while criticizing Trump’s work habits, prompting a sharp response from the White House and fresh attention on her influence within the administration. But who is Natalie Harp? This timeline reveals where she came from and how she became one of the president’s most trusted aides. Before Trump: Education, Cancer Diagnosis and Advocacy Before becoming a political figure, Harp graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2012 before earning an MBA from Liberty University in 2015. Her life changed dramatically after she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her 20s. As she underwent treatment, Harp became increasingly vocal about access to experimental medicines and afterwards emerged as a public advocate for “Right to Try,” a law designed to expand access to investigational treatments for patients with life-threatening illnesses. In 2019, Harp drew national attention when she appeared alongside Trump and publicly credited the president and the Right to Try law with helping save her life, a claim that would become central to her public identity and political rise. Meeting Trump and Entering MAGA Politics Harp’s public praise of Trump swiftly elevated her profile among conservatives. Trump invited her onstage at events and highlighted her story as an example of the administration’s healthcare policies. As her visibility grew, she became a regular presence in Republican circles. The relationship soon became formalized when Trump named Harp to the advisory board of his 2020 reelection campaign, marking her transition from health care advocate to political surrogate. Harp later addressed the 2020 Republican National Convention, delivering a speech that focused heavily on her health battle and gratitude toward Trump. From OAN Host to Trump Aide In 2020, Harp joined One America News Network, the conservative television channel commonly known as OAN. During her time there, she remained a staunch supporter of Trump and maintained ties to his political network. After leaving OAN in 2022, Harp moved closer to Trump’s day-to-day operation. She joined his post-presidency team and gradually became an increasingly trusted aide as he prepared another White House run. The 2024 Campaign and ‘Human Printer’ Nickname Harp’s profile expanded dramatically during Trump’s 2024 campaign. She became known as the president’s “human printer,” a nickname stemming from her habit of carrying a portable printer to provide Trump with hard copies of favorable news articles, social media posts and other information while traveling. The arrangement reflected Trump’s preference for reading printed documents rather than consuming information on a screen. Consequently, Harp often traveled almost constantly with him and became one of the aides most frequently seen at his side. During this period, her responsibilities reportedly expanded. Harp increasingly became involved in Trump’s communications operation. Recent reporting indicates Trump often dictates Truth Social posts to her. It she then types and publishes. The White House Years When Trump returned to office in January 2025, Harp entered the administration as a presidential appointee and executive assistant to the president. Since then, she has remained one of the most visible aides in Trump’s entourage, frequently accompanying him on domestic and international trips and often appearing in photos alongside the president at the White House, on Air Force One and at official events. When the president was reportedly moved from one aircraft to another after security concerns, harp was among a small group of aides who accompanied Trump during a highly unusual security operation while departing Turkey in July. Harp was among those transported with Trump during the episode. Why Natalie Harp is Back in the Spotlight Harp again became the focus of national attention this week after Ossoff referenced her during a campaign rally, saying Trump wanted to “build his ballroom and travel with Natalie” rather than do the job of president. The remarks sparked an immediate backlash from White House officials, some of which was then directed at CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes. This person asked the president concerning Ossoff’s comments, and was later dubbed “disgraceful” by the White House. The episode also triggered widespread interest in Harp, whose role had previously been familiar mainly to White House insiders and political reporters. Harp’s estranged brother, Preston Harp, described what he characterized as her devotion to the president as an “unhealthy obsession” earlier this week in an interview with CNN. He suggested that his sister views Trump as someone who helped save her life after her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang