As viral photos appearing to show Donald Trump kissing aide Natalie Harp on a golf course spark intense speculation, here is what we know about the images
Viral images claiming to show President Donald Trump locking lips with his fiercely loyal executive assistant on a golf course has sent social media into a spin.
Snaps surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) during the last 24 hours, which on the surface appear to show the US President embracing blonde aide Natalie Harp, 35, while out on the green.
The photos triggered a storm of online speculation, with critics pointing to the cosy display as supposed “proof” of a romantic relationship between the pair. But a closer look at the images tells a very different story. Despite causing an internet frenzy, there is no credible evidence to suggest the photographs are real.
Internet detectives quickly tore a high-resolution version to shreds, spotting key anomalies that point directly to AI generation. The clearest tell-tale sign of computer generation appears on Harp’s right hand, which shows six fingers.
Interestingly, eagle-eyed users noted that two versions of the fake snap were circulated – a crisp, high-resolution original and what seems to be a deliberately blurred, low-resolution copy.
One observer wrote on X: “The clear one is the original image & clearly AI generated…The blurry one is much more convincing. Both are fake, but it illustrates something interesting: if you downscale an AI image, it’s very hard to detect whether or not it’s fake.”
Major news organisations and photo agencies including Getty Images, Reuters and the Associated Press have no record of the picture. The image gained massive traction mainly because Harp is rarely seen away from Trump’s side, sparking relentless gossip in political circles.
The former One America News Network host, who credits Trump with saving her life in 2018 after helping her access experimental bone cancer treatment under the “Right to Try” law, has become one of his most indispensable aides.
Dubbed his “human printer,” Harp famously accompanies the President everywhere, including his golf courses, carrying a battery-powered printer to supply him with continuous printouts of favourable news stories, social media posts and headlines.
Online critics have even mockingly branded her his “nappy nurse” – a jab linked to unverified online claims that the large black tote bag she constantly carries contains adult nappies for the President.
Her extreme dedication has previously raised eyebrows. In May 2023, genuine photos at Trump Turnberry showed Harp sprinting uphill behind a motorcade of golf carts to keep up with the entourage.
A personal letter obtained by journalists revealed Harp apologised to Trump for walking the course, explaining she had been told there were no extra carts and saying she wanted things to “always be right” between them.
Financial disclosures recently revealed Trump handed Harp a staggering $45,000 (£33,000) Christmas cash bonus on top of her $150,000 (£110,000) annual salary.
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff even took aim at their bond during a recent rally, saying: “He doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie.”
With rumours reaching fever pitch, First Lady Melania Trump’s team has forcefully hit back at the internet gossip-mill. Speaking on conservative host Stella Escobedo’s YouTube show, Melania’s senior advisor Marc Beckman trashed claims about the President’s personal life and leapt to Harp’s defence.
He said: “The liberal media is ridiculous. 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.”
Beckman added: “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. They’re obsessed with the gossip with the first family.”