Internet State

In 2026, President Donald Trump gave significant cash gifts to four White House aides, raising ethical concerns about possible violations of federal compensation rules, with Natalie Harp, Margo Martin, and Chamberlain Harris each receiving $45,000, while Walt Nauta received $20,000. These payments, totaling $135,000, were described as "Cash Gift for Holidays" and are equivalent to about one-third of the aides' annual salaries, which are $150,000 for Harp, Martin, and Harris, and $175,000 for Nauta. The White House defended the gifts as compliant with ethics rules, stating they were unrelated to the aides' official duties, despite federal employees generally being barred from additional compensation.

President Donald Trump gave cash gifts totaling $157,000 to four White House staffers, including $45,000 to close aide Natalie Harp, with two others receiving the same amount and Walt Nauta receiving $22,000. The White House stated these gifts are personal and separate from the staffers' official duties, which are legal under U.S. law, despite federal employees being prohibited from receiving outside compensation. There is no record of any other staff receiving gifts, although many past presidents have given personal items to aides rather than cash.