Donald Trump's Loyal Aide Natalie Harp Is His Human 'Binky,' White House Correspondent Jokes of Their Close Relationship

New York Times Senior White House Correspondent Maggie Haberman recently referred to 35-year-old presidential assistant Natalie Harp as President Donald Trump's human "binky."

The comment, made during an interview detailing the extremely close circle of aides who travel with the president, has amplified ongoing scrutiny surrounding their unique professional and personal dynamic.

Haberman's comments arose while discussing a secret aircraft swap in Turkey due to Iranian threats. Harp was one of only three core staffers — alongside Dan Scavino and Walt Nauta — permitted on the smaller, secondary plane.

“I can guess why Natalie Harp and Walt Nauta and Dan Scavino were with him,” Haberman said. “Natalie Harp, because she is sort of his binky, for lack of a better way of putting it, a comfort blanket.”

“He also always carries that brown leather briefcase that became very familiar in term one,” Haberman continued. “It had things like Tic-Tacs and hairspray and all kinds of stuff. And Dan Scavino, because he’s one of Trump’s closest aides and has been with Trump for 30-some odd years, first as a caddy at his Westchester golf course and then into the White House and in the campaign.”

Haberman noted that Harp acts as an emotional safety net. Her primary function is to keep the president in a positive mood, shield him from negative press, and fuel a steady stream of validation.

Harp travels with a portable printer and manages direct access to Trump's social media accounts. She handles digital content, compiles flattering news packages, and types out dictated posts late into the night.

In her bombshell bestselling book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump with New York Times colleague Jonathan Swan, Haberman reported that Harp leaves the president private notes in “personal spaces.”

Some of these notes read, "You are all that matters to me," and "I want to bring you joy," which reportedly unnerved others in the administration.

The intense proximity has drawn fierce criticism from political opponents. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff openly attacked the dynamic during a campaign rally, accusing Trump of neglecting presidential duties to travel with Harp on his "apparently defenseless flying palace."

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle fiercely pushed back against Haberman's remarks to PEOPLE, stating she behaves like a "creepy" self-appointed psychologist who clings to the president for relevance.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung aggressively slammed Sen. Ossoff on social media, while Trump publicly fired back by mocking Ossoff as a "Pinky [Pee-wee] Herman lookalike."

Trump also lashed out at CNN reporter Kristen Holmes when questioned about the nature of Harp's extreme gatekeeping role, with staff calling the line of questioning "callous."