As Donald Trump gears up for his 2024 presidential campaign, many have noticed that a lot of his longtime allies and avid supporters have slowly vanished from his side.
But it seems he’s taken the ‘out with the old, in with the new’ approach, because the former President, 76, has added a slew of new people to his close-knit circle of confidantes in recent months.
Most notably, he’s acquired a glamorous new assistant, named Natalie Harp, who practically goes everywhere with him and is said to always bring her laptop with her so she can pull up positive articles about him if he needs a boost in moral.
In addition, the real estate mogul has grown particularly close to his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, and future-daughter-in-law, Kimberly Guilfoyle, in recent months.
As Donald Trump gears up for his 2024 presidential campaign, many have noticed that a lot of his longtime allies have slowly vanished from his side. He is seen with daughter Ivanka in 2020
But the former President, 76, has added a slew of new people to his close-knit circle of confidantes in recent months. He is seen with assistant Natalie Harp in 2019
Lara, 40, Kimberly, 54, and Natalie, 31 – who once credited Donald with saving her life – seem to be some of the only loyal companions that he has left, as the list of people in his corner has certainly dwindled down as of late.
Most notably, his daughter Ivanka Trump left the world stunned when she announced that she would have no involvement in his upcoming campaign, despite being a prominent member of his group of political advisors in the past.
As the businessman prepares to run for president, FEMAIL has taken a close look into who’s in and who’s out of his inner circle
The mother-of-three, 41, stated that she was instead ‘prioritizing’ her family and the ‘private life’ that they had ‘created.’
And while she has spoken positively about her father, many have wondered if their relationship has become strained – especially since they haven’t been seen together in months.
Another person who has been noticeably absent from his side recently is Donald’s wife, Melania Trump.
The former First Lady, 52, was not present at any of his recent rallies, and has kept a much lower profile since he left the office in 2021 – and her decision to shy away from the public eye has not gone unnoticed.
As the businessman prepares to run for president, FEMAIL has taken a close look into who’s in and who’s out of his inner circle.
From where he stands with Ivanka and why Melania has opted to step away from the spotlight to his ever-growing bond with Natalie, here’s everything we know about Donald’s closest clique.
Ivanka Trump – out
Ivanka (seen with her husband, Jared Kushner) left the world stunned in November 2022, when she announced she would not be involved in her father’s 2024 presidential campaign
Instead, the mother-of-three, who previously served as a White House advisor, said she would be ‘prioritizing’ her family and the ‘private life’ that they had ‘created’
Ivanka left the world stunned in November 2022, when she announced she was stepping away from politics and would not be involved in her father’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Instead, the mother-of-three, who previously served as a White House advisor, said she would be prioritizing her private life.
‘I love my father very much. This time around, I’m choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family,’ she said.
‘I do not plan to be involved in politics. While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena.’
She, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three kids – Arabella, 11, Joseph, nine, and Theodore, seven – have been living a much quieter life in Miami, Florida, since leaving the White House in early 2021.
She’s rarely ever seen with her dad in public – in fact, the last time they were pictured together was in November 2022, at Tiffany Trump’s wedding to Michael Boulos.
One thing that may have put a strain on their relationship was the fact that Ivanka went against her father’s claims that President Joe Biden’s election was rigged during the hearing over the January 6 Capitol riots last year.
She’s rarely ever seen with her dad in public – in fact, the last time they were pictured together was in November 2022, at Tiffany Trump’s wedding to Michael Boulos
Ivanka went against her father’s claims that President Joe Biden’s election was ‘fraud’ during the hearing over the January 6 Capitol riots last year
At the time, Ivanka said she ‘accepted’ former Attorney General Bill Barr’s determination that there was not evidence of fraud during the election.
Afterwards, Donald railed against his own daughter in a scathing social media post.
Earlier this month, a source told People that Ivanka has officially decided that she was done trying to advise her father because she knows ‘how impossible he can be.’ They are seen together in February 2020
‘Ivanka Trump was not involved in looking at, or studying, election results,’ he wrote on the app Truth Social.
‘She had long since checked out and was, in my opinion, only trying to be respectful to Bill Barr and his position as Attorney General (he sucked).’
Earlier this month, a source told People that Ivanka has officially decided that she was done trying to advise her father because she knows ‘how impossible he can be.’
‘Donald does what he wants, and she can’t help him now,’ the insider added. ‘His help is in the hands of his lawyers and advisers. She is no longer working in that capacity.’
Another friend of Ivanka’s told the outlet that she ‘misses her active social life’ and is working hard to compensate for ‘what she lost when she spent for years in her father’s Washington.’
Another source spoke out about Ivanka and Donald’s relationship to Us Weekly, explaining that she had a ‘rotten time’ towards the end of his presidency and that she ‘couldn’t step away fast enough.’
‘Even if her dad begged her to be involved in his campaign again, Ivanka would turn it down flat,’ they added.
‘Her priority is to pursue a calm, low-key life now and enjoy her new professional start in the private sector, raise her family and stay away from the circus and volatility that will surely be coming along with her dad’s campaign.’
Melania Trump – out
Another person who has been noticeably missing from Donald’s side recently is his wife, Melania Trump (seen in 2020), who has stayed largely out of the spotlight since he left office
She’s only been seen at events a handful of times, and has mostly evaded paparazzi – while her spouse has continued to make appearances. He is seen without her at a rally on March 25
Another person who has been noticeably missing from Donald’s side recently is his wife, Melania.
The 52-year-old has stayed largely out of the spotlight since her husband left office last January,
She’s only been seen at events a handful of times, and has mostly evaded paparazzi – while her spouse has continued to make regular appearances.
In fact, the last time she was seen with Donald was nearly three months ago, when she stood silently by his side at a press conference on New Year’s Eve at his Mar-O-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Melania was not with him at any of his recent rallies, leaving many to wonder if her absence means something.
When rumors first started to swirl that Donald was going to run for president again in September 2021, CNN reported that being the First Lady again was ‘not what Melania wanted.’
In fact, the last time she was seen with Donald was nearly three months ago, when she stood silently by his side at a press conference on New Year’s Eve at his Mar-O-Lago resort (seen)
‘Being First Lady again is not what she wants. For her, it was a chapter – and it’s over, and that’s that,’ an insider said.
When rumors first started to swirl that Donald was going to run for president again in September 2021, CNN reported that being the First Lady again was ‘not what Melania wanted.’ She is seen on November 15 at his formal announcement about his upcoming presidential campaign
Another source added, ‘You’re not going to see her at rallies or campaign events, even if he ‘officially’ says he’s running again.’
Even so, when he formally made the announcement a year later, she showed her support in a statement released to Breitbart News.
‘I support my husband’s decision to run for president of this wonderful nation,’ she said.
‘His achievements during his administration had a great effect on all of us, and he can lead us toward success and prosperity again.
‘I await the day when my husband returns to lead an America that is characterized by peace, love, and security.’
As for her recent disappearance from the spotlight, a source told Page Six that she was trying to ‘lay low’ amid Donald’s recent legal woes in an attempt to ‘protect’ their son, Barron, 17.
Even so, her decision to shy away from her former public life has not gone unnoticed.
Hope Hicks – out
Hope Hicks was one of Donald’s closest aides throughout his presidency, but in January 2021, a shocking report claimed she was no longer working with him. They are seen in 2018
CNN claimed at the time that she was iced out after she ‘pushed back on the then-President’s baseless voter fraud claims.’ They are seen together in October 2020
During the hearing over Donald’s participation in the January 6 Capitol attacks, Hope completely turned on her former boss
Hope Hicks was one of Donald’s closest aides and most-trusted counselors throughout his presidency, but in January 2021, a shocking report from CNN claimed that she was no longer working with him.
The outlet claimed at the time that she was iced out after she ‘pushed back on the then-President’s baseless voter fraud claims’ and ‘urged him against pursuing legal challenges without competent lawyers in place.’
She stated in her testimony that he ‘stopped listening to her’ long before the event that calling it ‘awful’ and ‘sad.’ They are seen in March 2018
During the hearing over Donald’s participation in the January 6 Capitol attacks, Hope, 34, completely turned on her former boss, stating in her testimony that he ‘stopped listening to her’ long before the event that calling it ‘awful’ and ‘sad.’
She said she was put off by his repeated claims of election fraud and that she urged him not to speak about it publicly, but he didn’t listen.
She recalled him asking her, ‘Is it really as bad as everyone’s making it seem?’ to which she said she replied, ‘Yes. Yes, it is.’
Most recently, Hope met with prosecutors who are investigating hush-money payments made to women on the ex-President’s behalf.
She and her lawyer were seen leaving the DA’s office in Manhattan this week after reportedly spending ‘hours’ inside.
Natalie Harp – in
Natalie joined Donald’s team in March 2022 when she left her hosting job at the conservative One America Network to become his assistant. They are pictured together in 2019
And the two have seemed to grow very close since then. She’s often seen accompanying him on his daily golfing trips, and she even once credited him with saving her life
Natalie joined Donald’s team in March 2022 when she left her hosting job at the conservative One America Network to become his assistant.
And the two have seemed to grow very close since then. She’s often seen accompanying him on his daily golfing trips, and she even once credited him with saving her life.
In 2019, she explained that the healthcare policy Right to Try law, signed by Donald in 2018, was the reason she made it through a battle with bone cancer.
Natalie, who was diagnosed in 2015 with Stage Two bone cancer, said the plan allowed her to seek an effective treatment after others had failed.
‘I’m not dying from cancer any more thanks to President Trump, I’m living with cancer,’ she said.
In 2019, she explained that the healthcare policy Right to Try law, signed by Donald in 2018, was the reason she made it through a battle with bone cancer
Natalie reportedly follows him around when he goes golfing in a cart equipped with a laptop and printer, so she can show him uplifting news stories when he needs a morale boost
She added in a 2020 speech, ‘When I failed the chemotherapies that were on the market, no one wanted me in their clinical trials.
‘They didn’t give me the right to try experimental treatments, Mr. President. You did, and without you, I’d have died waiting for them to be approved.’
The 31-year-old is often pictured by the former President’s side and also runs his social media accounts.
She has a desk outside of his office and is readily available to follow him wherever he needs to go.
She reportedly follows him around when he goes golfing in a cart equipped with a laptop and printer, so she can show him uplifting news stories when he needs a morale boost, per the Washington Post.
Kimberly Guilfoyle – in
Donald has seemed to have grown very close to his son, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancé, Kimberly Guilfoyle, recently. They are seen together in 2019
The former President was present at his future daughter-in-law’s 54th birthday celebration earlier this month, and was seen partying the night away with her
Donald has seemed to have grown very close to his son, Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancé, Kimberly, recently.
Donald allegedly made a speech at the event, in which he described Kimberly, who served as one of his advisors during his presidency, as a ‘terrific addition’ to his family
The former President was present at his future daughter-in-law’s 54th birthday celebration earlier this month, and was seen partying the night away with her.
The bash, which took place in her home in Jupiter, Florida, was reportedly attended by 400 people, with most of the party-goers including potential donors and neighbors and very little celebrities and politicians.
Donald allegedly made a speech at the event, which was more of a rant about illegal immigration than about Kimberly, before he hit the dance floor to show off his moves.
He did detail his excitement about welcoming her into the family when son, Don Jr., finally marries her during the speech, and thanked her for help with his campaign.
He described Kimberly, who served as one of his advisors during his presidency, as a ‘terrific addition’ to his family while calling her and Don Jr. a ‘wonderful couple.’
He detailed his excitement about welcoming her into the family when son, Don Jr., finally marries her during the speech, and thanked her for help with his campaign
However, he then turned the speech into a political escapade.
‘We’re fighting very hard, we have a country that’s in very bad shape, we have millions and millions pouring in from mental institutions, jails and 128 countries,’ he said, according to an onlooker.
‘At least 98 [countries] are releasing all their prisoners into the US from insane asylums and metal institutions – and why wouldn’t they?
‘It’s a disaster, including many many terrorists. We need to change it around. It’s been an amazing campaign so far.’
Lara Trump – in
Donald couldn’t stop gushing over his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, while attending her fundraiser fashion show earlier this month – making it clear that they’re as close as could be
Lara, the wife of Donald’s son Eric Trump, not only put the show together in an attempt to raise money for abandoned animals, but she also strutted the catwalk during it
Afterwards, Donald took to the stage to congratulate his daughter-in-law on the amazing job she did. He said: ‘She’s so incredible, so great’
Donald couldn’t stop gushing over his daughter-in-law, Lara, while attending her fundraiser fashion show earlier this month – making it clear that they’re as close as could be.
Lara, the wife of Donald’s son Eric Trump, not only put the show together in an attempt to raise money for abandoned animals, but she also strutted the catwalk during it – donning a blue, flowing corset dress.
Also in attendance was Kimberly, who was seen proudly filming Lara as she stomped down the runway.
Afterwards, Donald took to the stage to congratulate his daughter-in-law on the amazing job she did.
‘She’s so incredible, so great,’ he said. ‘She wanted to make this very special this year. She worked with the group behind me and the group in front of me.’
Lara appears to be fiercely loyal to Donald, and she even left her role as an official contributor to Fox News following his announcement that he was running for president again
Last year, when an interviewer said ‘it didn’t seem as though he’s got the old magic,’ Lara (seen with Eric Trump in 2021) fired back, ‘I highly disagree with that’
However, he once again used the moment to plug his campaign, adding, ‘Remember this – we have a country that’s in trouble. We will make America great again. We will make it better than ever before.’
Lara appears to be fiercely loyal to Donald, and she even left her role as an official contributor to Fox News following his announcement that he was running for president again.
There’s a longstanding rule that bans contributors from being linked to active campaign members, so she quickly announced that she was stepping away from the company.
She also defended him during an interview with Fox Business Network last year. When the host said ‘it didn’t seem as though he’s got the old magic,’ she fired back, ‘I highly disagree with that.’
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