Four staff members got a total of $155,000 in cash gifts for the holidays from President Donald Trump this year. The numbers come straight from financial disclosures reviewed by ABC News. Natalie Harp, Margo Martin, and Chamberlain Harris each received a $45,000 check. Walt Nauta got $20,000. These men and women already earn six-figure salaries for their work.
Harp serves as the president’s executive assistant and makes $150,000 a year. Martin and Harris earn that same $150,000 salary. Nauta directs Oval Office operations and brings home $175,000 annually. The addresses on the payments show Harp and Martin live in Palm Beach, Florida. The records list Harris and Nauta as living in Washington.
The White House did not shy away from these reports. ABC News reported that a spokesperson mentioned the president frequently gives Christmas presents to those around him. They said this includes employees and aides from his time in government and the private sector. “The gifts at issue here have nothing to do with any of these individuals’ official government duties, and therefore are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards,” the official stated.
The Washington Examiner confirmed these details and noted the payments were first reported by the Washington Post. They also shared a comment from the president about a critic he calls a “Pee-Wee Herman look-alike.” The Washington Times also carried the story of the $155,000 total given out to the staff. The records show these were personal holiday cash gifts, not bonuses for work done
Not everyone in Washington agrees with the move. Senator Jon Ossoff made a sharp comment at a recent rally about the president’s plans. He stated the president aims to construct his ballroom and journey with Natalie on their seemingly vulnerable flying palace, a gift from the Emir of Qatar. He also noted that many Americans “would much rather do other things” with their money during the holidays. These remarks were reported by ABC News as part of the broader reaction to the disclosures.
The payments are listed as cash gifts for the holidays on the forms. This distinction matters to those who watch government ethics rules. The White House insists the money has no link to official duties. Critics argue the optics look strange for a sitting president to hand out such large sums.
Four aides received a combined $155,000 in cash while keeping their full salaries. The White House says the rules were followed. The records show the money came from the president’s personal pocket for the holidays. ABC News, The Washington Examiner, and The Washington Times all reported the same figures. The public now knows exactly who got the checks and how much they were for. The debate over whether this is right or wrong continues, but the facts are clear. The president gave $45,000 to three of his top helpers as a holiday gift.
