President Donald Trump's personal aide, Natalie Harp, was not seen at the first lady's return to public view on Thursday, marking a sharp departure from recent weeks during which Harp was observed alongside the president almost continuously.
Melania Trump revealed that she would be expanding the reach of her Fostering the Future initiative, which the Hill reports aims to "expand academic opportunities for young people transitioning out of the foster care system." The New York Post had earlier on Thursday morning disclosed that the Trumps intended to unveil a new scholarship.
Harp's Usual Presence and Absence
Harp is typically positioned nearby at any engagement involving the president, with photographers catching sight of her on the periphery of the Oval Office. Today, though, she was not captured in photographs. She also travelled with him on a recent visit to Scotland and was equally present at his side during a NATO gathering in Turkey earlier this year.
According to previous accounts, Harp purportedly "never takes a day off" from her duties, supposedly even carrying out work on Sundays.
Reports on Harp's Role and Loyalty
A recent piece published by The New York Times revealed: "She never takes a day off, not even on Sunday. She works out of the Oval Office and she's got a regular seat on Marine One. She texts with world leaders on the president's behalf. She stays up late with him drafting social media posts."
The Times further reported that Harp is regarded as "a bit of a loner" within the White House, with her loyalty to Trump having "no bounds." This intense devotion to her role has left a number of her colleagues "unnerved."
Former Official Comments on Harp's Dynamic
Sarah Matthews, former Trump White House deputy press secretary, appeared on CNN's Laura Coates Live on Monday, 18th August, to address this unusual dynamic between Harp and President Trump. Matthews said, "It's fair for people to point out the fact that this is an aide who has the ear of the president, who alarmed Secret Service, because of her obsession with him and the fact that she would leave him love notes saying things like, 'You're all that matters to me.'"
