Only You Matter to Me”/ Letters from Trump aide Natalie Harp raise questions about her relationship with the president

Natalie Harp’s personal correspondence with US President Donald Trump has sparked a new debate in the White House, as the letters contain unusually intimate and emotional language.

“To me, only you matter” and “We don’t always have to talk about work!” are among the phrases Harp uses in letters addressed to Trump. In another message, she tells him that she wants to be by his side and talk “about everything and nothing.”

One of the letters also includes a request for the president to reprimand her if she makes a mistake.

“Please, when I’m wrong, will you tell me? You have every right to reprimand me harshly, if necessary, when I deserve it, because no one knows me or cares about me more than you do,” Harp writes.

The correspondence was written during or immediately after Trump’s visit to his properties in Aberdeen and Turnberry, Scotland, as well as Doonbeg, Ireland, in May 2023.

The Daily Beast published the letters in full. Some excerpts had previously been made public by commentator Michael Wolff, who included them in a book about Trump’s reelection.

Natalie Harp is considered one of the president’s closest aides and has secured an influential position within his inner circle. She prints the materials Trump reads and also helps draft some of his posts on Truth Social.

The publication of the letters has renewed attention on her influence over the president. Michael Wolff has said the documents were given to him by people within the Trump campaign who were concerned about the closeness between Harp and the president.

“It is not a relationship that should exist in a professional context,” Wolff said on his podcast.

Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle has defended Harp, describing her as one of Trump’s most loyal and dedicated aides. He characterized critical reporting about the president and his administration as part of “fake news.”

The controversy escalated after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff made an inappropriate comment about what he called the “Natalie ride.” The White House responded sharply, describing the Democratic senator as “dangerous.”

Harp’s role in the White House had previously sparked controversy as well. For a long period, she had difficulty obtaining Secret Service clearance for her background, a process required for people who have access to materials related to national security.

However, the greatest concern within the administration relates to the influence Harp may have over the president. According to reports, she may determine which materials are delivered to Trump and which are withheld, thereby playing an important role in filtering the information that reaches him.

So far, the letters have provided no evidence of a romantic relationship between Trump and Harp. For this reason, comparisons with the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky scandal have been deemed unfounded in the absence of further evidence.

At the height of the debate, Melania Trump appeared publicly alongside her husband. During a White House event unveiling a charitable initiative with a $2 million donation, she was seen holding Trump’s hand.

“I heard you missed me. Here I am. Here I am! Welcome to the White House,” Melania Trump said during the event.