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Harp clearance delay
Natalie Harp, a special assistant and executive assistant to President Donald Trump, worked at the White House for nearly a year without obtaining a security clearance, according to a report by MS Now cited by The News International.
“worked at the White House for nearly a year without obtaining a security clearance”
The New Republic reported that two people familiar with the matter said it was unclear why Harp had failed to obtain the proper security clearance received by all staff when they began working at the White House.
The New Republic also said concerns around Harp’s access intensified among the White House counsel’s office and security officials, prompting the president to personally intervene, after which Harp filled out the forms to receive a background check and then received her security clearance.
The Independent said Harp repeatedly declined to obtain security clearance during a period of more than a year while working at the White House, and that the required documents were ultimately submitted only after Trump personally intervened.
In response to the scrutiny, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told MS NOW, “Natalie Harp has a security clearance like everyone else, and she is a loyal and hardworking member of President Trump’s team.”
Ossoff sparks backlash
The dispute over Harp’s clearance status became part of a broader political fight after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff targeted her during a rally in Atlanta on Sunday, according to The News International.
Ossoff told MS Now on Wednesday, “It’s been amazing to watch this White House melt down over this all week,” and he added, “These White House staffers are adults, public officials paid by the taxpayer with immense power in positions of public trust,” in the same report.
The News International said White House communications director Steven Cheung responded to Ossoff on X with a personal attack, while spokesman Davis Ingle also criticised the senator.
The Independent reported that Ossoff appeared to allude to a separate report about Harp accompanying Trump aboard a military aircraft departing Turkey amid concerns about a potential Iranian attack, and Ossoff said Trump “doesn’t want to do the job…He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie.”
The Independent also quoted Scott Jennings condemning Ossoff’s remark, saying, “She is a smart, talented person who wants to serve her country and the president,” while adding, “But for Jon Ossoff and the Democrats, well, she’s there because she’s a pretty blonde who must be sleeping with her boss.”
Access and vetting stakes
The New Republic said Harp’s missing security clearance was one of several red flags raised by staff during Trump’s second administration, and it quoted one national security official voicing concerns that Harp’s unusually close proximity to Trump provided her access to more sensitive information than anyone else in the president’s orbit.
““plays into the less productive and more troublesome parts of his nature, putting things in front of him that aren’t vetted,””
One of the four people quoted by The New Republic said Harp “plays into the less productive and more troublesome parts of his nature, putting things in front of him that aren’t vetted,” and another said there had been “subtle moves” to create space between Harp and Trump.
The Mirror US reported that top staffers made “subtle moves” to limit Harp’s access to Donald Trump after she allegedly did not seek security clearance for over a year, and it quoted a source saying, “She is just persistent and not realizing that’s what they were trying to do.”
The Independent said the SF-86 form requires applicants to disclose background information including financial history, prior residences and foreign contacts, and it reported that Harp received several extensions to complete the paperwork.
The Economic Times framed the stakes around Harp’s access, saying the reported delay was significant because Harp is frequently close to Trump, including during presidential travel and at his residences, and it quoted White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt disputing the claim that Harp currently lacks clearance: “Natalie Harp has a security clearance like everyone else, and she is a loyal and hardworking member of President Trump’s team.”