Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to three White House aides, public records show

Donald Trump reportedly gave significant cash gifts to several White House aides for the holidays, according to financial disclosures released by the administration. Executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin, and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris each received $45,000. Director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta also received a gift of $20,000.

These payments were listed on the staffers' annual financial disclosure forms as "Cash Gift for Holidays" and came in addition to their respective government salaries. Harp, Martin, and Harris earn $150,000 annually, while Nauta is paid $175,000 per year.

A White House official stated that these gifts align with President Trump's longstanding practice of giving Christmas presents to individuals in his circle, both in and out of government. The official further asserted that the gifts were unrelated to the aides' official duties and therefore permissible under ethical standards, though a former White House ethics lawyer raised concerns about potential violations of rules against supplementing federal salaries.