Donald Trump has sparked a social media frenzy after being photographed squeezed into a tight space alongside two blonde aides on board Marine One. The 80-year-old US President was seen travelling from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday as he headed to a campaign rally in Wasilla.
It was not his political speech that got critics talking online, but the cramped quarters he shared with his inner circle. Pictures shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed newly appointed White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, 41, and long-time Trump aide Natalie Harp, 35, beaming as they sat directly opposite the Commander-in-Chief.
Social media reacts to 'putrid stench' jibes
Journalist Aaron Rupar posted the image with the caption: "A beaming Katie Zacharia and Natalie Harp look at Trump as he boards Marine One yesterday in Alaska." Social media users quickly piled into the comments section, taking aim at the President's alleged hygiene issues and mocking the two aides sitting in close proximity.
One person posted: "Trump is smart to have a primary diaper changer and a backup diaper changer." A second user wrote: "Oh my f***ing god imagine the putrid stench they're having to sit there and smile through." Meanwhile, a third added: "Does Natalie have competition?"
Natalie Harp's role and background
The cruel "nappy nurse" moniker has been attached to 35-year-old Harp by online critics following wild speculation that she assists the President with intimate health needs. While the claims are entirely unsubstantiated, armchair detectives often point to the heavy black bag she regularly carries as evidence.
Harp, a former anchor at right-wing network One America News, earns a taxpayer-funded $150,000 a year as a special assistant and executive assistant. Dubbed Trump's "human printer", she follows him constantly to fetch merchandise, print stories from conservative websites, run Google searches and pitch posts for Truth Social. She joined his team in 2022 after claiming Trump's 2018 Right to Try Act saved her life during a battle with stage two bone cancer.
On Tuesday, Harp stepped out in a beige coat and blue floral dress alongside Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Zacharia. The flight capped off a chaotic day for Zacharia, who stepped into the press secretary role after Karoline Leavitt vacated the position in August. The former Newsmax commentator bagged the top job after catching Trump's eye on TV. However, her debut White House press conference on Tuesday morning was branded a total car crash.
Unfounded allegations about Trump's health
The brutal online commentary comes amid unfounded allegations regarding the President's health and personal hygiene. Physical therapist Adam James, who runs the Instagram account @epistemiccrisis, recently made wild claims that Trump's hygiene is in severe decline.
James said: "I have sources with knowledge of the situation that are DMing me on social media, telling me that nowadays you can smell Trump around the corner in the White House. His incontinence is that bad." James alleged the issue dates back years, adding: "We've all known for decades that the president has had incontinence issues since the days he was filming The Apprentice."
