President Donald Trump awarded cash gifts totaling $45,000 each to three of his closest White House aides last year, according to newly filed financial disclosure forms. The recipients included Natalie Harp, Trump’s executive assistant; Margo Martin, a communications adviser; and Chamberlain Harris, deputy director of Oval Office operations. Additionally, longtime aide Walt Nauta received a $20,000 gift.
The payouts have raised questions about potential violations of federal regulations prohibiting political appointees from receiving bonuses related to their government service. Federal rules generally forbid government employees from accepting outside compensation connected to their official duties. In 2023, the Trump administration reinforced this standard in guidance stating that bonuses should only be given to top performers who are career employees, not political appointees. The guidance explicitly maintained a freeze on discretionary bonuses and similar payments to politically appointed officials.
A White House spokesperson subsequently asserted that the cash gifts were longstanding holiday presents given to individuals within Trump’s circle and were unrelated to their official responsibilities. The statement argued that the gifts complied with legal and ethical standards.
However, critics contend the payments risk undermining federal anti-corruption laws. Kedric L. Payne, general counsel and senior ethics director at the Campaign Legal Center, noted that federal law forbids government employees from receiving bonuses or other compensation from non-governmental sources for their official roles. He characterized the payments as inconsistent with the “spirit of the law,” emphasizing the importance of preventing conflicts of interest or the appearance that employees might favor donors over the public interest.
Natalie Harp, who received $45,000, is widely considered one of Trump’s most trusted aides and functions as his gatekeeper. She was notably involved in a recent episode when she accompanied Trump on a secret flight from Turkey amid a credible threat to Air Force One. Martin and Harris, also close to Trump, play significant roles in communications and operations. Martin frequently records and distributes behind-the-scenes content from the presidency, while Harris, formerly the president’s receptionist, was appointed to the Commission of Fine Arts, where she advocates for projects favored by Trump, including the production of a gold coin bearing his likeness.
Walt Nauta, who received a $20,000 gift, was previously charged alongside Trump in the federal prosecution relating to the mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. The charges against Nauta were dismissed after Trump regained the presidency.
The financial disclosures and gift amounts were first reported by other news outlets. The annual salaries for Harp and her female colleagues were approximately $150,000, while Nauta’s was $175,000. The cash gifts represent a substantial supplement to those incomes and have sparked renewed scrutiny over the application of ethics rules to top political aides in the Trump administration.