Trump cash gifts to aides
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The gist
Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to aide Natalie Harp and two other White House aides.
Federal employees are generally barred from outside pay, so the gifts raise ethics questions.
Background
The White House released annual financial disclosure forms showing President Trump gave holiday cash gifts to four West Wing aides in 2025. Three aides — executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris — each received $45,000, while director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta received $20,000. The amounts equaled roughly one-third of the $150,000 salaries of Harp, Martin and Harris. Federal employees are generally barred by statute from receiving compensation beyond their government salaries, which is why the disclosures drew scrutiny.
How it unfolded
- Sep 8, 2026The Washington Post first reported the cash gifts to the aides.
- Sep 9, 2026The White House published the aides' annual financial disclosure forms, and multiple outlets reported the $45,000 and $20,000 gifts.
- Sep 9, 2026White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said Trump has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including employees and aides.
- Sep 10, 2026NBC News reported that ethics and legal experts said the gifts raise concerns about whether Trump was trying to supplement the aides' salaries.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said the gifts were not related to the individuals' official government duties and are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.
- Expert
- Ethics and legal experts told NBC News the sizable cash gifts present ethical and legal concerns about whether Trump was trying to supplement the aides' salaries.
Still unverified
Whether the gifts violate any specific federal statute or ethics rule remains disputed; the White House says they are permissible, while experts quoted by NBC News raise concerns. The disclosures do not include dates for when the gifts were given, aside from describing them as 'for the holidays.'