Eric Trump defended Natalie Harp on X, calling recent coverage 'absolute trash' and praising her as a hard-working cancer survivor. The backlash followed a CNN interview in which her estranged brother described a 2023 incident in which Harp reportedly climbed into a presidential vehicle's trunk. Reporting also notes Harp frequently accompanies the president on golf trips and at Mar-a-Lago, carries a portable printer, and assists with social media. Critics, including Senator Jon Ossoff, say the president's inner circle may be insulating him from candid counsel.
Eric Trump Defends Natalie Harp After 'Obsession' Claims, Calls Coverage 'Absolute Trash'
Natalie Hart and Eric Trump
Eric Trump publicly pushed back Wednesday against media coverage questioning the relationship between President Trump and senior White House aide Natalie Harp, calling the reporting 'absolute trash' in a post on X.
Forceful Defense From Inside the Inner Circle
In his post, Eric praised Harp as an 'incredible young woman,' highlighted her history as a cancer survivor, and described her as one of the hardest-working staffers in the White House. He said she is deeply committed to her duties and devoted to serving the country. He also criticized the network that aired the original segment, calling it a 'complete joke.'
What Sparked the Controversy
The rebuttal followed a televised interview on CNN featuring Preston Harp, an estranged brother of Natalie Harp, who described an unusual incident from 2023. According to that interview, Harp allegedly tried to join the president's motorcade after being told there were no seats and reportedly climbed into the trunk of a waiting vehicle.
Preston Harp said the episode was 'kind of sad' and suggested his sister's devotion to the president bordered on an unhealthy obsession.
Reporting on Harp's Role
Reporting from The New York Times and other outlets has described Harp as a frequent presence around the president — traveling with him on golf outings, spending time at Mar-a-Lago, and often seen walking near him while carrying a portable printer to hand him printed articles and favorable online commentary. She is also reported to assist with drafting and posting the president's social media messages late into the night.
Harp has publicly said she survived severe bone cancer in 2019 and has credited experimental treatments made accessible by health legislation signed by President Trump in 2018 with saving her life. She has written letters to the president describing him as a personal guardian, which has been cited as a source of their close bond.
Political Backlash
Critics have seized on Harp's proximity to the president. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff raised concerns at a rally in Atlanta and in a television interview, arguing the president's inner circle may be insulated by loyalists who do not offer candid advice — a worry he says is particularly dangerous amid ongoing global conflicts.
Eric Trump's public defense will likely shore up support among loyalists, but the episode keeps questions alive about optics, boundaries, and the roles of senior staffers close to the president.
Do you think Eric Trump's defense settles the controversy, or does it raise further questions about Natalie Harp's relationship with the Trump family?
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