Natalie Harp, the president’s 35-year-old executive assistant, was aboard Marine One for the inaugural flight from the $13 million South Lawn helipad. Major networks boycotted the ribbon-cutting in protest of the White House’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS NOW, forcing the White House to stream the event on YouTube with inaudible audio. Reports say Harp played clips critical of MS NOW for the president hours before his Truth Social posts, and the three outlets have since filed a lawsuit over revoked access.
Natalie Harp Joins Trump on Marine One for Inaugural South Lawn Helipad Flight Amid Media Boycott
Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images
Natalie Harp, President Donald Trump’s 35-year-old executive assistant, was among the small group aboard Marine One for the inaugural flight from the newly completed South Lawn helipad following Monday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Harp boarded the helicopter through the rear after the ceremony and flew with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and communications adviser Margo Martin. The president called the trip the helicopter’s “maiden voyage” from the $13 million landing pad.
The presidential party flew to Joint Base Andrews and then transferred to Air Force One for the trip to New York City, where Trump is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Harp also accompanied the president on a recent visit to Camp David and returned with him late Saturday.
Ceremony Turned Into A Public Spectacle
The ribbon-cutting drew broader attention because most major broadcast networks declined to carry the event. NBC, ABC, CBS and — notably — Fox News all refused to provide live coverage in protest of the White House’s decision to revoke access for CNN, Politico and MS NOW. The White House instead streamed the ceremony on YouTube, but the livestream produced no usable audio: Marine One’s engines overwhelmed the president’s remarks, leaving viewers unable to hear his speech as he cut a red, white and blue ribbon with oversized gold scissors.
Questions About Harp’s Role
Harp’s presence attracted heightened scrutiny amid reporting about her influence over the information the president receives. Sources told The Wall Street Journal that Harp had shown Mr. Trump clips of MS NOW anchors criticizing his administration just hours before he posted attacks on the three outlets via Truth Social.
Shortly after the helipad ceremony, the three affected outlets filed a lawsuit challenging the revocation of their White House access. The suit names President Trump, Susie Wiles, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and Secret Service Director Sean Curran.
Harp has increasingly been described in reporting as a close gatekeeper who prints articles and social posts for the 80-year-old president — a role that now faces intensified public and legal scrutiny as the administration travels to the U.N. and beyond.
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