I am all for fair compensation; we at Mother Jones love to see the worker thriving! But my eyes widened, big time, upon learning that President Donald Trump gave Natalie Harp, his most devoted aide, also derisively known as the "human printer," $45,000 as a Christmas gift.
Two other White House staffers received the same all-cash gifts, which appear to be in flagrant violation of federal law prohibiting federal employees from receiving supplemental income from outside sources. Naturally, the White House has defended the payments as nothing-to-see-here, haterade.
Some things to consider: Potential ethics violations are a dime a dozen for this administration, and Trump, as I note here, has a longstanding habit of doling out hefty cash tips. But there's good reason that Harp, as a beneficiary in this unusual practice, feels icky, especially considering the strange stories of Harp's fierce devotion to her boss.
For more on the mysterious all-cash $45,000 gift and the national gossip over Harp, head on over here.
—Inae Oh
P.S. Our Kiera Butler, a national correspondent covering extremism, will be answering the internet's burning questions about her reporting on Pete Hegseth’s spiritual mentor, Doug Wilson, and the growing movement of young Christian nationalists Wilson has inspired on r/politics Friday at 11 a.m. ET.
