Natalie Harp, an aide to President Donald Trump, worked at the White House for more than a year without a routine security clearance, as reported by two sources familiar with the situation. The reasons for her decision not to seek the clearance were not disclosed. Following rising concerns from the White House counsel's office and security officials, President Trump intervened, prompting Harp to complete the necessary forms for a federal background investigation, which she subsequently received.
Concerns regarding Harp's lack of security clearance were raised by Trump's senior aides since his return to the White House in January 2025. Harp is known to have close access to the president and is responsible for filtering much of the information he receives daily. This has led to frustrations among some staff members. A national security official expressed worries about her access to sensitive information, which is greater than that of many other senior officials.
Since joining Trump's team before the 2024 presidential campaign, Harp has become a key gatekeeper, often providing the president with printouts of favorable media coverage and polling data. Some staff members have attempted to limit her access to Trump, but these efforts have not been successful. The White House press office did not provide comments from Harp but stated that she is a loyal member of Trump's team and has a security clearance.
Harp has received multiple extensions to complete her security paperwork, which is a lengthy process requiring detailed background information. Concerns about her access and lack of clearance have also been raised by the Secret Service during Trump's first year back in office. Harp is frequently seen near Trump and has accompanied him on various trips, including a recent incident where she was present during a security concern in Turkey.
Harp gained prominence after speaking at the Republican National Convention in 2020, where she credited Trump with saving her life through the Right to Try Act, although medical experts have questioned the validity of her claims. She previously worked as a host on One America News and joined Trump's re-election campaign in 2022, earning the nickname "Human Printer" for her habit of delivering printed materials to the president.