Why is the White House being so weird about Natalie Harp again? | Arwa Mahdawi

The president's assistant travelled with him to Ireland - which really shouldn't be much of a story. But his comms team seems determined to make it one

Passport, money, emotional support human: Donald Trump had all the travel essentials on his recent trip to Ireland. The president flew into Dublin on Saturday morning to play golf, meet the country's leaders and make provocative comments about unification. Melania didn't accompany her husband on the trip (Uh, she sends her regards," Trump said), but his devoted aide Natalie Harp was obviously at his side.

You'll know Harp: the 35-year-old assistant was headline news last month after Democratic senator Jon Ossoff quipped that Trump didn't want to do his job; he just wanted to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie". That comment would have been quickly forgotten were it not for the Trump administration's unhinged response (sample: Jon Jackoff has to be the biggest cuck loser in politics"), which sparked a media frenzy. There was suddenly a spotlight on Harp, who is nicknamed the human printer" because she trails the president with a portable printer, ready to hand him hard copies of flattering coverage. She appears to be disturbingly obsessed with her boss and he seems to appreciate the attention: it was recently revealed that Trump gave her (and two other female aides) a cash gift of $45,000 (33,000) for a nice holiday.