Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›Trade & Tariffs›Trump aides received cash gifts, triggering ethics con…
Trump aides received cash gifts, triggering ethics concerns
The White House disclosures list cash gifts of US$45,000 each for three West Wing aides and US$20,000 for another, despite rules limiting federal employees to government pay.
Reuters, citing White House financial disclosures, reported that US President Donald Trump gave tens of thousands of dollars in cash gifts last year to executive assistant Natalie Harp and three other close aides in the West Wing.
The payments were labeled as “Cash Gift for Holidays” and raised ethics concerns because federal employees are generally barred by statute from receiving compensation beyond their government salaries.
Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris each received US$45,000, roughly one-third of their stated federal salaries of US$150,000 per year, according to the White House annual personnel report to Congress.
A separate disclosure showed Walt Nauta received US$20,000 in cash, with his annual compensation listed as US$175,000.