Fact Check: Did Natalie Harp post nuclear codes on Instagram and Trump defended her?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid speculation and criticism over President Donald Trump’s closeness to his White House aide Natalie Harp, a social media post claimed that the president defended Harp for posting nuclear codes on Instagram. The claim has triggered questions over its authenticity, prompting a fact-check.
Claim: Donald Trump defended Natalie Harp for sharing nuclear codes
According to a viral post on X, Harp posted screenshots of the nation’s nuclear codes on Instagram, which featured a clearly legible image of the nuclear codes adorned with heart and smiley-face emojis, sparking criticism from national security experts and prompting the president to defend her.
“Despite what the fake news says, Natalie is doing an amazing job,” Trump allegedly said. “That post got millions of likes, from places as far away as Russia, China, and Iran.”
The post also alleged that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reacted to the claim, stating, “The world is safer if she has the nuclear codes and he doesn’t.”
The claim was amplified by several accounts on X and Facebook, with users believing it to be true, while few others dismissed it as false.
Fact Check: The claim originated as parody
The claim, however, is false, as there is no evidence that Harp posted nuclear codes and that the president defended her for it.
There are also no records of Trump making the above-mentioned remarks defending Harp. The statement attributed to the Canadian prime minister is also baseless.
If Harp had really posted nuclear codes on her social media and Trump had defended her for it, prominent news outlets would have widely covered it, making headlines, triggering massive backlash and debates.
Additionally, the claim was posted on ‘The Borowitz Report,’ a parody news outlet that posts fake and exaggerated claims for clickbait.
Scrutiny over Natalie Harp's access to Donald Trump
Natalie Harp, executive assistant to President Donald Trump, stands as President Trump arrives for a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for military casualties of the war with Iran on July 22, 2026, in Dover, Delaware (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)The claim surfaced amid scrutiny surrounding Harp for being rarely away from Trump, for her access to the president and her role in the operation of his social media, drawing renewed attention.
The scrutiny was sparked by recent photographs, including images shared online involving her and Melania Trump, putting Harp back in the public spotlight.
The White House dismissed the criticisms, describing Harp as a loyal and hardworking member of Trump's team.
Within Trump's circle, she has been known as the “human printer” who supplies him with printed articles, social-media posts, and other material, with reports documenting her accompanying Trump on official trips, including a secure flight from Turkey last month.
