Source : Perth Now news
US President Donald Trump gave sizable holiday gifts to four White House aides, new financial disclosures released by the administration reveal.
The gifts of $US45,000 ($A62,294) each to executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin, and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris as well as a $US20,000 ($A27,686) gift for director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta were noted in the staffers’ annual financial disclosure forms that were published by the administration last week.
Harp, Martin and Harris make $US150,000 ($A207,647) annually and Nauta is paid $US175,000 ($A242,255) a year, according to the White House’s salary disclosure report to Congress.
A White House official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Trump “has a longstanding practise 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”.
The official did not say if any other staffers were given similar gifts from the president, but added that the cash gifts were not related to the “individuals’ official government duties, and therefore are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards”.
The disclosures of the gifts were first reported earlier on Tuesday by The Washington Post.
Harp is a constant presence by Trump’s side and is known for carrying a portable printer with her so she can print out favourable media coverage and social media posts for the president, who prefers reading important information on paper rather than on a screen.
