Trump gave aide Natalie Harp a $45,000 holiday cash gift, disclosure shows

Publicly released financial disclosures show President Donald Trump gave substantial cash gifts to four White House staffers. Natalie Harp, a close aide, received $45,000, with two other officials also receiving the same amount. Walt Nauta, a longtime aide, was given $22,000. The total value of these holiday gifts amounted to $157,000. The White House stated these were personal, legal gifts unrelated to official duties, citing a longstanding practice of giving holiday presents. The disclosures indicate no other White House staffer received gifts from the president.

President Donald Trump provided substantial cash gifts to four close aides working in the West Wing last year, according to White House financial disclosures. Executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin, and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris each received $45,000, described as "Cash Gift for Holidays." Walt Nauta, director of Oval Office operations, received $20,000 in cash. These payments, totaling tens of thousands of dollars, have raised ethics concerns as federal employees are generally prohibited from receiving compensation beyond their government salaries. The amounts were equivalent to a significant portion of the aides' annual federal salaries.