SAN DIEGO — Natalie Harp, a special assistant to President Trump, publicly credited the president with saving her life during a speech at the Republican National Convention in August 2020. Reports describe her professional duties and personal devotion to the president.

Harp appeared on Fox News in 2019, where she stated that a healthcare bill signed by President Trump saved her from a rare form of cancer. During her address at the convention the following year, she directed remarks to the president, saying, "I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for you." Her role in the administration has included following the president with a portable printer to provide hard copies of news coverage or information.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who speaks with Harp on a weekly basis, defended the assistant's conduct and performance. She stated that Harp's relationship with President Trump is 100% professional. "Just like many of the administration officials, you become friends with your co-workers," she said in an interview. She added that Harp has been effective in her duties, noting, "She’s been nothing but professional and an absolute killer when it comes to getting her job done."

Harp grew up in the Carmel Valley neighborhood of San Diego, where she and her brother were home-schooled by their mother. Her mother used educational materials from Bob Jones University Press, which focus on a biblical worldview, for their education. The family attended services regularly at Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon, where Harp opted to sit with adults instead of the youth group.

During her childhood, Harp spent most of her time with adults, especially her mother, and rarely socialized with peers. Her mother monitored phone conversations between Harp and her brother, Preston Harp, though the two drifted apart as they got older. Natalie Harp's mother did not respond to a phone call seeking comment.

Timeline

In 2019, Natalie Harp appeared on Fox News and credited a healthcare bill signed by President Trump with saving her from a rare form of cancer. In August 2020, Harp spoke at the Republican National Convention, where she told the president, "I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for you."

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that prior to the 2017 Right to Try Act, the FDA had an expanded access program that allowed patients to access investigational drugs under certain conditions, according to newrepublic.com. The Right to Try Act was intended to provide an alternative pathway with less federal oversight. A book co-authored by Maggie Haberman, titled 'Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump', includes anecdotes about Natalie Harp allegedly leaving adoring notes for President Trump, with one reportedly stating: 'You are all that matters to me.' It is also reported that Natalie Harp has served as special assistant to the president of the United States.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the characterization of the relationship between Natalie Harp and President Trump. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna stated that Natalie Harp's relationship with President Trump is 100% professional. In contrast, a book co-authored by Maggie Haberman, titled 'Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump', includes anecdotes about Natalie Harp allegedly leaving adoring notes for President Trump, with one reportedly stating: 'You are all that matters to me.'

Why It Matters

The public discussion surrounding Natalie Harp involves conflicting descriptions of her role and relationship with the president. While a member of Congress asserts the relationship is strictly professional and praises Harp's work ethic, published accounts describe personal expressions of devotion. These differing perspectives involve questions regarding the boundaries between personal loyalty and professional duty within the administration.