Reported by: Hajira Irfan
Natalie Harp’s Delayed Security Clearance Raises Questions at White House
For more than a year, Natalie Harp was reportedly working just steps away from President Donald Trump while an important part of her federal background process remained unfinished. The revelation has drawn fresh attention to one of the president’s closest aides and the unusual level of access she has maintained inside the White House.
According to MS NOW, Harp did not complete the paperwork required to begin her formal background investigation for more than a year. The delay reportedly raised concerns among White House lawyers and security officials because of her close relationship with Trump.
Clearance Process Remained Incomplete
Harp joined Trump’s White House staff in January 2025 and serves as an executive assistant to the president. Despite holding a position that keeps her close to Trump, she reportedly did not complete the paperwork needed to begin the formal clearance process for more than a year.
The situation reportedly became serious enough to reach Trump himself. According to the report, the president personally intervened at one point as officials dealt with the unresolved clearance issue.
Harp eventually submitted the required paperwork and received her security clearance in recent months, bringing the lengthy process to an end.
Why Harp’s Access Matters
The revelation is particularly striking because Harp is not a staffer who works far from the president.
She reportedly sits just outside the Oval Office and regularly accompanies Trump during his activities. Her responsibilities have also reportedly included access to his Truth Social account, placing her close to the president’s communications operation.
However, available reporting does not establish that Harp improperly accessed classified information while she was awaiting clearance.
A Constant Presence Around Trump
Harp has become a familiar figure during Trump’s second administration, frequently traveling with him and remaining nearby during major presidential activities.
She was reportedly among a small group accompanying Trump during a security related aircraft switch in Turkey earlier this month, further highlighting how closely she operates within the president’s inner circle.
Her relationship with Trump has also received attention because of personal letters she has reportedly written to him. In one letter, Harp apologized for disappointing the president and described putting her work ahead of basic needs such as eating and sleeping.
Questions Remain After Clearance
Security clearances are part of the federal process for determining whether personnel can appropriately receive access to classified information. That makes the reported delay especially notable given Harp’s proximity to the president.
Her clearance has now reportedly been granted, but the bigger questions remain: Why did the process take more than a year, and why did the issue reportedly require Trump’s personal intervention?
For an aide who has become almost inseparable from the president’s public schedule, the disclosure turns the spotlight back on what happens behind the Oval Office doors, and how much access one of Trump’s closest aides was able to maintain before the government’s formal vetting process was complete.
