Natalie Harp, one of President Trump's most trusted aides, now holds the same security clearance as every other West Wing staffer after completing the standard federal background process with the president's personal support.
President Donald Trump's executive assistant Natalie Harp now holds the same security clearance as every other West Wing staffer, with the standard federal background process fully completed in recent months. The 35-year-old aide, one of the most visible and trusted members of the president's inner circle, finished the paperwork that launched a formal background investigation and received her clearance. The White House says the matter is resolved and she remains a valued member of the team.
Harp has been at the president's side since the start of his second term in January 2025, serving as special assistant and executive assistant to the president. Her role puts her at the center of daily White House operations, from managing the flow of information to keeping the president briefed on the news cycle no matter where he is.
West Wing employees are expected to complete their security clearance paperwork when they first join the administration. The process begins with the SF-86 form, a lengthy document that requires applicants to disclose financial history, prior residences, and foreign contacts before a federal background investigation begins.
Harp received several extensions while completing the paperwork, and the president personally stepped in to make sure the process got finished. Once the forms were submitted, the formal background investigation moved forward and she received her clearance. In the end, the same standard process that applies to every West Wing employee was followed to completion.
The outcome settles a matter that had generated discussion inside the White House for more than a year. With the clearance now in hand, Harp holds the same credentials as her colleagues, and the administration has moved on.
The White House has made its position clear. "Natalie Harp has a security clearance like everyone else, and she is a loyal and hardworking member of President Trump's team," press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Harp's loyalty to the president is well documented. A bone cancer survivor from California, she first gained national attention when she credited the Right to Try Act -- signed by Trump in 2018 -- with helping her access experimental treatment. She delivered an emotional address at the 2020 Republican National Convention and later worked on Trump's 2024 campaign before joining the White House.
Inside the West Wing, she is known as the "human printer" for her habit of carrying a portable printer and battery pack so the president always has physical copies of articles and posts, which he prefers to screens. She has also been at the president's side during security-sensitive moments, including a July trip when she was among the small group that accompanied Trump after a reported threat from Iran forced a change of aircraft.
With the clearance process behind her, Harp continues in her role as one of the president's closest advisers. The episode underscores a simple reality: even the most senior and trusted members of the White House staff go through the same federal background checks as everyone else, and the president made sure the standard was met.
For the administration, the chapter is closed. Harp is fully cleared, the White House has publicly backed her, and the president's team remains intact as it heads into the fall campaign season.
Natalie Harp, one of President Trump's most trusted aides, now holds the same security clearance as every other West Wing staffer after completing the standard federal background process with the president's personal support.
freedomlinedispatch.com
