Brother Says Natalie Harp Was Devoted To Pastor David Jeremiah Before Joining Trump’s Team

White House aide Natalie Harp reportedly attended Pastor David Jeremiah’s sermons from her early teens and later worked in the church office, her estranged brother Preston Harp told reporters. The 35-year-old aide rose to national attention after reports that she accompanied former President Donald Trump during a covert transfer from Air Force One amid a suspected threat tied to Iran.

Early Church Involvement

Preston Harp said Natalie began attending adult sermons at Shadow Mountain Community Church around age 13 and that both she and their mother were involved in church office work circa 2010. Shadow Mountain, led by Jeremiah, is a multi-site Southern California congregation that also operates the nationwide broadcast ministry Turning Point for God.

Preston Harp said that his younger sister started attending California-based Pastor David Jeremiah's sermons when she was about 13 and later worked in the church office (AFP via Getty Images)

Family, Faith and Tensions

Preston described the congregation as a conservative megachurch and said he left home at 18 after expressing doubts about the family’s version of Christianity. He told reporters that Natalie preferred adult sermons while he attended youth group services.

Connection With Trump

Harp’s proximity to Mr. Trump has attracted scrutiny. Reports have circulated that she sometimes sought to remain close to the president while on his properties, and that she was among a small group moved from Air Force One to a smaller jet during the president’s departure from a NATO summit — a transfer reported to have been made amid concerns about a potential assassination threat.

Harp, who joined Trump's team in 2022, was thrust into the political spotlight last month after it was reported that she was one of the select few who got to ride with Trump during a secret escape from Air Force One amid a potential assassination threat from Iran (Getty Images)

Health And Gratitude

Harp has publicly credited a 2018 law signed by Mr. Trump with helping her gain access to experimental treatments after a bone cancer diagnosis. In 2019 her story received national attention, and media reports later quoted a 2023 letter in which she expressed deep personal gratitude to the former president.

Public Reaction And Responses

Critics — including Preston Harp and some Democrats — have questioned the nature of Harp’s closeness to Trump. Supporters and White House allies have pushed back, calling such coverage unfair and defending Harp as a capable staffer. A scholar of religion cited in reporting noted that Pastor Jeremiah had engaged with evangelical leaders around Trump during the 2016 campaign but later distanced himself as the former president’s public persona changed.

Note: Many of these details come from media reports and interviews; some claims about Harp’s behavior near the president have been reported but not independently verified.

The Independent and other outlets have sought comment from Pastor Jeremiah and others mentioned in the reporting.