Trump Gives $45,000 Cash Gifts To Close White House Aides, Raising Ethics Questions
US President Donald Trump gave $45,000 each to three of his closest White House aides as holiday gifts, according to newly released financial disclosure forms.
The recipients were executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris. Each earns $150,000 a year, making the gift equivalent to about 30% of their annual government salary.
Trump also gave $20,000 to Walt Nauta, the director of Oval Office operations, who earns $175,000 annually.
The White House said Trump has a longstanding tradition of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including employees and aides, and maintained that the payments were unrelated to their official government duties and permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.
However, the large cash payments have triggered questions from ethics experts over whether federal employees can accept such substantial gifts from the president, who is also their boss.
Harp, one of Trump’s closest aides, is frequently at his side and is known for carrying a portable printer to provide him with favourable media reports and social media posts.
The disclosures have placed renewed scrutiny on Trump’s unusually close relationships with members of his inner White House circle and the financial benefits they receive from the president.