President Donald Trump flattered an even younger White House aide than Natalie Harp, potentially putting her in an uncomfortable position.
Trump, 80, spoke Thursday at a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, where he invited 31-year-old communications adviser Margo Martin, an Oklahoma native, on stage. He then fixated on her looks.
Martin âis known for a number of things,â the president said. âI canât mention one, because if I do, my political career will be over.â

He then mentioned it anyway: âYou can never say that a woman is beautiful. If you say a woman is beautiful, thatâs the end of your political career. But, Iâll say it anyway: She is a beautiful woman, inside and out.â
Trump, pointing out Martinâs parents, continued: âI see why sheâs good-looking, actually. You know, I believe in the racehorse theory. Fast horses, right? Great mom and dad. Thank you very much. Great job, Margo.â
On The Daily Beast Podcast, Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty dissected that moment and how it could play out behind the scenes in the White House.
âI actually feel for Natalie Harp watching that,â Coles said.
Trump was clearly âshowing offâ Martin, Dougherty added.
âAnd of course, Trump travels with the same group of people all the time. So Natalie Harp was there as well,â he explained. âHe brought [Martin] up, he hugged her, he talked about how beautiful she is. We know that thatâs the language of Trump.â
âSo in his view, this is a local girl done good. But if youâre Natalie Harp… there were these pictures earlier in the week of him apparently shouting at Natalie Harp. And then, a younger woman, a woman whoâwe have to sayâhas regularly been mistaken for Melania, was brought up on stage.â
Martin and Harp have been in the White House since the first day of Trumpâs second term. Martin, his communications adviser, and Harp, his executive assistant, each make $150,000 per year, and each received a $45,000 cash gift from Trump, apparently for the âholidays,â The Washington Post reported last month.
Harp, in letters published by the Daily Beast, has called Trump her âGuardian and Protector in this Life.â
Tuesdayâs rally, Coles theorized, could be Trumpâs attempt to instill a competition of sorts between the two women.
âIt seems that heâs trying to pit them against each other, which is something we know he does with his Cabinet,â she said. âYou know, itâs JD Vance versus Marco Rubio versus Pete Hegseth. Heâs doing it here with Natalie Harp and Margo Martin.â
When reached for comment, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung replied: âJoanna shouldnât be so jealous, itâs not a good look for her.â
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