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The Conversation
The Conversation
Brian O'Neill, Professor of Practice, International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology

Security clearances don’t determine whom a president can trust – they reveal risks the president may not know

White House aide Natalie Harp, distant right, is often seen at President Donald Trump's side. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

One of President Donald Trump’s closest aides, Natalie Harp, worked in the White House for more than a year without completing the normal security clearance process, according to a recent MS Now report.

Harp may have been among the personnel granted interim Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information access at the beginning of Trump’s second term. Trump authorized such clearances in January 2025 for up to six months, allowing officials to begin work while the normal background investigations proceeded.

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