President Donald Trump reportedly joked that his aide Natalie Harp could replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary. According to sources, Trump made this comment in response to Leavitt's recent announcement that she is leaving her position. The search for a replacement continues, with political commentator Scott Jennings emerging as a frontrunner and having met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles at a steakhouse in Washington D.C. This comes amidst growing concern over Leavitt's departure and scrutiny of Harp's role in the administration.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old Californian and cancer survivor, has become one of Donald Trump's closest and most devoted aides, working as his special assistant to the president and executive assistant on an annual salary of $150,000. She was introduced at the 2020 Republican national convention as "a formerly forgotten American from California" and compared Trump with George Bailey from the film "It's a Wonderful Life". Harp has been in the spotlight recently after Jon Ossoff, a Democratic senator, accused Trump of wanting to "build his ballroom and travel with Natalie" instead of attending to official duties.
Harp has been nicknamed the "human printer" for supplying Trump with print-outs of information. However, her role in the administration has come under scrutiny, including reports that she was smuggled onto a military plane with Trump to escape a suspected Iranian threat and sat in the trunk of an SUV to accompany him to a courthouse in 2023.
Trump reportedly joked that Harp could replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, but this has raised questions about her security clearance. It was discovered that Harp worked at the White House for over a year without the routine clearance, refusing to file the relevant forms until the White House counsel's office intervened.
Harp has also been criticized for writing letters to Trump expressing her devotion to him, calling herself "unworthy" of serving him. Michael Wolff, an author who has written about Trump, revealed that Harp was granted a special perk when she first joined his team - access to an exclusive Sunday buffet at Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Written for “Natalie Harp Aide Scandal” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.15 for article 1669 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-31
President Donald Trump reportedly joked that his aide Natalie Harp could replace Karoline Leavitt as the next White House press secretary.
uncertain
aide → joke → secretary
Both women have been key figures in Trump’s inner circle in recent years, with Leavitt recently announcing she was leaving her position, in an unexpected move that leaves a key role unfilled.
Harp, the president’s executive assistant, is frequently spotted at Trump’s side and has even earned the nickname of “human printer” because she provides the president with hard copies of news articles and social media posts.
asserted
she → announce → articles
Sources told CNN on Thursday that Trump joked that he may have Harp, who has come under the spotlight in recent days over her devotion to the president, replace the outgoing Leavitt.
uncertain
who → tell → Leavitt
Scrutiny of Harp’s role in the administration has intensified after a report she was one of a small number of staff smuggled onto a military plane with Trump to escape a suspected Iranian threat.
asserted
she → intensify → threat
Another report focused on letters Harp has written to the president, expressing her devotion to him, with a third suggesting she sat in the trunk of an SUV to accompany Trump to a courthouse in 2023.
asserted
she → focus → 2023
On Thursday night, Trump even posted an A.I.-generated image of himself in the White House press briefing room, standing at the podium with the caption “The Best Press Secretary”.
asserted
Trump → post → caption
But as the search for a replacement for Leavitt continues, sources told CNN that there is growing concern over the press secretary’s departure.
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sources → continue → departure
“It feels like her and Susie are the only people holding this place together sometimes,” a White House official told the network, referring to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
asserted
official → feel → Wiles
Sources also told the network that political commentator Scott Jennings has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Leavitt, and is said to have met Wiles at a steakhouse in Washington, D.C.
Speaking to CNN’s NewsNight earlier this week, Jennings was coy when asked about rumors that he may be in line for the high-profile role.
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he → tell → role
“I don’t have any comment about that,” he said, before adding: “I think every president deserves a good, solid defense and someone who can go out there and explain what they’re doing, because the government’s doing so much.”
asserted
government → have → much
Jennings defended Harp from critics this week, after she was referenced by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in a recent speech that was highly critical of Trump.
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that → defend → Trump
“I just don’t think that’s what you sign up for when you’re someone like Natalie Harp, who never put her name on a ballot,” Jennings told Politico.
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Jennings → think → Politico
“She’s not the White House press secretary.
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She → ’ → ?
She’s not a household name, and I just find it to be appalling.
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it → ’ → ?
Somebody needs to defend her honor.”
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Somebody → need → honor
