President Donald Trump cracked a joke about first lady Melania Trump skipping his high-profile trip to Ireland — while longtime aide Natalie Harp was once again traveling by his side.
Trump, 80, arrived in Ireland Saturday for a two-day visit that included meetings with Irish leaders before heading west to attend the Irish Open at his Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg.
But Melania, 56, was noticeably absent.
Speaking to U.S. Embassy personnel and business leaders at the American ambassador’s residence in Dublin, Trump told the crowd his wife was there “in spirit” before joking about why she stayed behind.
“My wife is here in spirit. She’s watching right now. She said, ‘Say hello,’” Trump said.
The president said he encouraged Melania to make the trip, but the lengthy flight apparently did not appeal to her.
“I said, ‘Well, why don’t you come with me?’ She said, ‘Well, it’s a seven-hour trip. Maybe I’m not that friendly,’” Trump joked, drawing laughter.
Trump then added that he told her to “put on a Make America Great Again hat” and come along.
Melania had appeared with Trump at 9/11 commemorations the day before his departure, according to the president’s public schedule. Trump then traveled to Ireland without her.
One familiar face who did make the journey was Natalie Harp, Trump’s 35-year-old executive assistant.
Harp has become one of the president’s most visible aides and is frequently seen close by during White House events, travel and golf outings.
The former One America News personality joined Trump’s team in 2022 and earned the nickname “human printer” because of her reported habit of printing news articles, social media posts and other material for the president.
Her duties have also reportedly included searching the internet for information, helping find merchandise and suggesting material Trump could potentially share on Truth Social.
Harp was photographed with the U.S. delegation during Trump’s arrival events in Dublin.
Meanwhile, Melania has maintained a considerably lower public profile during Trump’s second term.
She returned to the spotlight in late August while promoting her Fostering the Future initiative, joking to the audience, “I heard you missed me. Here I am.”
Questions about Harp’s close working relationship with Trump have previously prompted pushback from Melania’s spokesman, Marc Beckman.
Beckman has rejected suggestions that there is tension between the first lady and Harp, defending Harp as a hardworking and talented member of the president’s staff.
Trump’s Ireland trip mixed diplomacy with one of his favorite pastimes.
He met with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin before traveling to his Doonbeg golf resort, where the Irish Open was being played.
And while Melania may have skipped the transatlantic journey, Trump made sure the crowd in Dublin knew she had not forgotten about them.
“She sends her regards,” he said.
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Natalie Harp is getting married this month, but evil LSM/NextGen is trying to ruin her marriage and her life by portraying her as a freaky spinster ‘Monica Lewinsky’ type seductress !
Ireland you can keep Trump and his crazy aid because Americans are tired of him.