President Donald Trump made light of Melania Trump’s absence during his visit to Ireland, even as his much-discussed aide Natalie Harp remained close by for his arrival at the ambassador’s residence.
Trump drew a big laugh from the crowd when he explained why the first lady chose not to accompany him on the Ireland trip.
Speaking in Dublin shortly after touching down at 8.23am local time, the president turned the question of Melania’s absence into a joke.
He told those gathered that his wife was “there in spirit” and said she considered herself “very friendly” with the Irish ambassador.
Trump said he had invited her to come along, only for the first lady to respond: “Well, it’s a seven-hour trip. Maybe I’m not that friendly.”
The line was met with laughter and applause, including from Natalie Harp, the president’s controversial aide, who stayed faithfully at his side during the visit.
Trump is spending the weekend in Ireland, where he is scheduled to meet business leaders and attend the Irish Open golf tournament at his resort in Doonbeg.
Following a brief meeting with Irish President Catherine Connolly, he traveled to Deerfield Residence, the home of Irish Ambassador Edward Walsh, to deliver remarks to local business figures.
Donald Trump joked that the first lady skipped his Ireland trip because “it’s a seven-hour trip”
Melania Trump did not accompany her husband to Ireland. On Friday, she attended a Pentagon commemoration marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks
Natalie Harp, who has recently drawn attention over her relationship with the president, was present during his visit to Ireland
The ambassador’s residence was prepared with a red carpet for Trump’s arrival before he stepped inside to deliver his remarks.
Among those he was seen greeting was Harp, his executive assistant, who has made headlines in recent weeks.
Harp is a former One America News host who joined Trump’s team in 2022 and now serves as his personal secretary, often within a few feet of the President.
She is known as the ‘human printer’ for carrying a portable printer and supplying paper copies of news articles and social media posts throughout the day.
Trump and Harp’s bond became the center of media attention in August when Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff told a rally that Trump would rather ‘build his ballroom and travel with Natalie’ than do his job.
She wrote Trump a series of personal letters in 2023, telling him in one: ‘You are all that matters to me.’
Harp’s alleged cash gifts from the president have also raised eyebrows. A former White House ‘ethics czar’ has called for an investigation after reports that Harp and two other officials received cash from Trump.
Harp, Chamberlain Harris and Margo Martin received $135,000 between them, each identifying Trump as the source of a ‘cash gift for the holidays.’
Harp was among the President’s entourage during his visit to Ireland. She is seen above shaking hands with Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly
Harp was all smiles shaking hands with delegation members at the ambassador’s residence
Harp was seen speaking with political consultant Christopher LaCivita as they awaited Trump’s remarks
The Campaign Legal Center has filed a complaint with the US Office of Government Ethics over the president’s handouts.
‘The President has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides, both in government and in his time in the private sector,’ a White House spokesperson told Politico.
‘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.’
A spokesperson for Melania Trump’s office has shut down any speculation regarding her husband’s relationship with Harp.
‘The liberal media is ridiculous,’ the First Lady’s top spokesman, Marc Beckman, told host Stella Escobedo during an interview on Wednesday.
‘They don’t know anything about the First Lady’s personal and private life. They don’t even take the time to put us on air to cover these incredible achievements that our First Lady has accomplished.’
‘What they need to do is look in the mirror because they’re all attacking this hardworking, very talented, very intelligent person in Natalie Harp,’ added Beckman.
‘And they’re obsessed with the gossip with the first family. And I can tell you firsthand that it’s time for them to become journalists and stop looking at the gossip.’
Donald Trump Jr (far right) was in attendance for the Ireland trip alongside his partner Bettina Anderson (middle)
US Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh and his wife Lynn walked the red carpet at their residence to welcome the president
Harp was spotted shaking hands with delegates and President Catherine Connolly outside the ambassador’s residence on Saturday.
She was all smiles as she waited for Trump’s remarks and was even seen chatting with political consultant Christopher LaCivita.
The president’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr, are also attending the weekend trip. Donald Jr was seen waiting for his father’s remarks alongside his partner, Bettina Anderson at the ambassador’s residence.
Trump also visited with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, and said he would love to see the reunification of the Republic of Ireland with the UK’s Northern Ireland.
‘I don´t want to cause any problems but I´d love to see it unified,’ Trump said. ‘It´s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now.
‘I think it would be a fantastic thing,’ he said, adding that ‘the UK will have something to say about it, obviously.’
Trump spoke with Irish President Catherine Connolly briefly after landing in Ireland for his non-state visit
Trump met with Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the Farmleigh House where he expressed that he would ‘love’ to see the reunification of the Republic of Ireland with the UK’s Northern Ireland
Trump flew overnight to Ireland after observing the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
He is set to attend The Irish Open, the second European Tour event to be held at a Trump property this year. The Nexo Championship was held last month at Trump’s golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Last year, Trump went to Scotland for five days to play golf at his club in Turnberry and later inaugurated a new Trump golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. During that visit, he held talks with the British prime minister and the president of the European Commission.
Our News Outlet has reached out to the White House for comment.
