Melania Trump and Trump Aide Natalie Harp Are Reportedly Locked in a Secret Power Struggle
Melania Trump and Trump Aide Natalie Harp Are Reportedly Locked in a Secret Power Struggle
Morning Honey Staff Tue, August 18, 2026 at 10:45 AM UTC
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Melania Trump’s reported tension with Natalie Harp deepens as aide stays close to Donald Trump (Image Credit: Aaron Schwartz/ ZUMPRESS/MEGA)
Melania Trump is reportedly locked in a quiet power struggle with President Donald Trump’s 35-year-old assistant, Natalie Harp. White House aide Natalie Harp has become almost inseparable from the president.
Her constant presence has become even more noticeable amid Melania Trump’s absence. According to reports, this comes amid the first lady’s increasingly infrequent public appearances. Melania Trump was seen in public only 47 times in 2025 after Inauguration Day, and on just 38 days during the first seven months of 2026.
Melania Trump Is Reportedly Steering Clear of Natalie Harp
According to The Daily Beast, Melania Trump is keeping her distance from her husband because she does not want to compete with Harp for Trump’s attention, according to author Michael Wolff. In his Substack newsletter Howl, Wolff explained that Natalie Harp’s major role in Trump’s life is one reason the First Lady was rarely seen on the 2024 campaign trail.
“Melania, whose appearances with her husband were carefully negotiated and choreographed, would not show up if Harp was around. Since Harp was always around, Melania never was—appearing with her husband only in the last week of the campaign,” Wolff wrote.
Wolff Reveals How Harp Has Stayed Glued to Trump
The author also revealed that Harp went to extreme lengths to stay close to the president. When his campaign moved to Bedminster, New Jersey, in 2023, she had no assigned room. Instead, she set up a bed in the maids’ quarters and later stayed in the women’s locker room to remain close.
Reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan wrote in their book Regime Change that Harp regularly left love notes in Trump’s personal spaces. One letter reportedly stated, “You are all that matters to me”.
Wolff further revealed, “Harp superseded the White House staff and, as well, his wife and family. Nobody got between Harp and Trump. And you only got to Trump by going through Harp.”
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The author shed light on Melania Trump’s decision not to live in the White House full-time after Trump returned to office. Wolff claimed that Melania had practically given up her daily role as a wife. While insiders do not believe the relationship is s**ual, many have described Harp as deeply devoted to him in a “Christian devotional relationship” and that she is determined to be his “higher purpose bride”.
Wolff Claims Harp ‘Went Crazy’ After Being Left on Air Force One
Wolff also revealed on the Inside Trump’s Head podcast that Harp had a major meltdown on Air Force One. During a secret security swap in which Trump switched planes using a food catering truck, Harp was initially placed on the proxy plane with press and staff.
Talking about the incident, Wolff explained that Harp “went crazy” and made a massive ruckus on board. Once Trump found out about the commotion, she was quickly moved over to his plane, per The Irish Star.
Social media users reacted strongly to the news. One user commented, “So she knew Trump wasn’t on that plane, pitched a fit to get on the other plane, and left all her co-workers and others to be targets?”
Another wrote, “Trump must have insisted Harp take Leavitt’s place when informed of this. Probably why Leavitt left in a huff.”
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
