Trump gave White House aides tens of thousands in cash gifts
FILE-President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media while touring construction of the new White House helipad and driveway on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 19, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump gave tens of thousands of dollars in cash gifts in 2025 to several White House aides.
Reuters obtained financial disclosures released by the White House and reported that the payments to the aides raised ethics concerns because federal workers are prohibited by statute from getting compensation beyond their government salaries.
The Washington Post first reported the cash gifts on Sept. 8.
Trump cash gifts to White House aides
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President Donald Trump’s cash gifts were made to executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris, and each employee received $45,000, described in their disclosures as "Cash Gift for Holidays."
Referencing the White House annual personnel report to Congress, Reuters noted the payments were equivalent to about one-third of the White House aides' federal salaries of $150,000 annually.
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Walt Nauta, another aide who works as the director of Oval Office operations, received $20,000 in cash, according to the White House financial disclosures. Nauta’s annual compensation is $175,000.
Reuters reported that Harp and Nauta are some of Trump's most trusted White House aides, with access to Trump during long days on the road or at the White House.
In August, the Washington Post reported that Harp and Nauta were in a catering truck that secretly moved Trump to a flight he took in July from Turkey to the United Kingdom amid concerns about potential threats from Iran.
Harp manages Trump's Truth Social account, posting content on his behalf and assisting with drafting social media statements, a person familiar with Harp’s role told Reuters.
Harp also provides favorable news coverage of Trump from a portable printer that she carries.
Reuters reported that Nauta, a former White House valet, faced allegations from federal prosecutors of helping Trump conceal top-secret documents that Trump took when he completed his first term at the White House in 2021. Nauta pleaded not guilty, and the case was dropped after Trump returned to office.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by Reuters, which obtained financial disclosures released by the White House and The Washington Post. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.