Trump Turns Santa Claus For His Aides With Huge Cash Gifts

Article by Kumar Published on: 4:27 pm, 9 September 2026

US President Donald Trump has reportedly given huge cash gifts to some of his close White House aides, with three aides receiving $45,000 each.

Executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and Oval Office aide Chamberlain Harris were among those who received the money.

Trump also reportedly gave $20,000 to Walt Nauta, the director of Oval Office operations. The payments were listed as holiday cash gifts in financial disclosures.

The huge amounts have now sparked questions, especially because the recipients are government employees whose annual salaries are around $150,000.

Ethics experts have questioned the unusual nature of such large personal gifts to government staff and whether they could raise concerns under federal rules.

The White House has defended Trump’s gesture, saying he has a long standing practice of giving personal holiday gifts and that the payments were not connected to the aides’ official duties.