President Donald Trump touched down in Beijing on 13 May 2026 for his first visit to China since 2017, arriving not with First Lady Melania Trump at his side but with a tight inner circle that included one little-known yet increasingly influential figure. Among the delegation was a woman many Americans would struggle to recognise, even though they have almost certainly seen the results of her work.
When Lara Trump posted a photograph of the outbound delegation boarding Marine One, sharp-eyed observers noticed a blonde woman standing alongside senior officials and Trump family members. That woman, now confirmed by multiple sources, is Natalie Harp, 34, Trump's executive assistant to the president, a figure whose extraordinary proximity to the commander-in-chief has unsettled colleagues, rattled the First Lady, and drawn the scrutiny of the Secret Service.
Beijing rolled out the literal and figurative red carpet for Trump as he arrived Wednesday evening local time. Three hundred Chinese children dressed in blue and white uniforms waved American and Chinese flags as he descended the steps of Air Force One. He was greeted at the base of the steps by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, dispatched by Xi Jinping to lead the welcome delegation.
The leaders of the world's two largest economies are due to meet on Thursday and Friday, with talks expected to focus on trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and the ongoing war involving Iran. The White House confirmed that top executives, including Tesla chief Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, BlackRock's Larry Fink and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, are also part of the American delegation.
First Lady Melania Trump, who joined the president for his 2017 China trip, did not travel with him this time. Her absence has drawn attention, particularly given who did make the journey. Among those seen boarding Marine One with President Trump were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Natalie Harp, and Walt Maura.
The beginning of history. 🇺🇸🇨🇳📸 President Trump arrives in Beijing, China to kick off a landmark state visit.pic.twitter.com/1duQ3sqNaM
Natalie Harp has served as executive assistant to the president since January 2025. A former television presenter, she worked for One America News Network from 2020 to 2022 before joining Trump's 2024 presidential campaign as an aide. She has since exerted considerable influence over his communications.
Her nickname within the campaign and the White House tells much of her story. She has earned the nickname 'human printer' due to her habit of carrying a wireless printer to supply Trump with news articles while on the move. During regular outings at his West Palm Beach golf course, Harp would follow behind Trump in a golf cart rigged with a wireless printer. The arrangement, eccentric as it sounds, proved indispensable and entrenched.
Harp first rose to prominence on Fox News in 2019 after praising Trump for signing into law a federal right-to-try law that she claimed allowed her access to experimental treatments, saving her life from bone cancer. Trump invited her to speak at the 2020 Republican National Convention. That speech, and the loyalty it represented, was the beginning of a relationship that has since grown to concern some of the most senior figures in Washington.
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Source: International Business Times UK
