Natalie Harp ― President Donald Trump’s reverent aide who’s come under scrutiny this week for her close relationship with and unfettered access to him ― worked at the White House without undergoing the routine security clearance process for more than a year, sources familiar with the matter told MS NOW on Wednesday.

Harp, who’s served as Trump’s executive assistant since his return to office last year, repeatedly refused to complete the process of obtaining security clearance for reasons unknown, two people familiar with the matter told the outlet. She only began filling out the forms in recent months after Trump intervened, one said.

One national security official reportedly sounded the alarm that Harp, a former right-wing news host, was in close proximity to Trump while he was handling highly sensitive information. Some staff have been making “subtle moves” to limit her access to the president, one of the sources said, but they have not been successful.

Natalie Harp, executive assistant to President Donald Trump, listens to a reporter's question as Trump holds a bilateral meeting with President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun in July.

Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images

“She is just persistent and not realizing that’s what they were trying to do,” the person said.

When reached for comment about the security clearance matter, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Natalie Harp has a security clearance like everyone else, and she is a loyal and hardworking member of President Trump’s team.”

A former senior adviser to President Barack Obama was among those perturbed by MS NOW’s report.

“If this story is true, and the person closest to the [president] and his thinking on a daily basis has no security clearance and refuses to submit to the process of getting it, it’s a deadly serious issue,” David Axelrod wrote on social media.

Several people in Trump’s orbit have reportedly raised security concerns about Harp, who was thrust into the spotlight this week after Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) mentioned her during a speech. Harp was one of the small handful of people Trump took with him on an alternative plane out of Turkey last month, which he covertly boarded after learning of a potential threat from Iran. Members of the White House press pool and senior administration officials remained on the plane Trump had boarded in public then secretly exited.

Since Ossoff brought up Harp’s name, her oddly close relationship with the president has come under a microscope. Media reports in recent days have uncovered unusual letters she sent him, as well as one incident in which she rode in the trunk of Trump’s motorcade to stay close to him.

Related