00:02A White House aide who was barely known outside Washington a week ago is now becoming something of a headache
00:09for the White House.
00:10Natalie Harp, one of President Trump's closest and most constant aides, is back in the spotlight after new reporting about
00:18her security clearance.
00:20Harp is the president's executive assistant and is frequently at his side, traveling with him, handling information he sees, and
00:27helping with his social media posts.
00:29Earlier this week, MSNOW reported that Harp repeatedly declined to complete the process for a routine security clearance for more
00:37than a year.
00:37The outlet says she eventually finished the paperwork after concerns were raised inside the White House.
00:43She has since received a clearance.
00:45The White House is pushing back, though its response does not directly address whether Harp went without a clearance before
00:52receiving one.
00:53In a statement, Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said, quote,
00:56Natalie Harp has a security clearance, like everyone else.
00:59And she is a loyal and hardworking member of President Trump's team.
01:03Harp's name was already getting attention this week after Democratic Senator John Ossoff of Georgia took shots at Trump during
01:10a campaign speech last weekend,
01:11saying the president would rather build his ballroom and travel with Natalie than do his job.
01:17The remarks set off a response from the White House with the president referring to Ossoff as Pee Wee Herman.
01:23And there's now been speculation about Harp's relationship with Trump.
01:26On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump made her first public appearance in more than a month
01:31and had a little fun with the attention surrounding her own absence.
01:35I heard you missed me.
01:38Here I am.
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