Natalie Harp Dons Reported $435 Gold Dress as Social Media Critic Says It Looks Like a 'Potato Sack'

Donald Trump's special assistant and executive assistant, Natalie Harp, was photographed boarding Marine One near the White House on Friday, 18 September, wearing what appeared to be a metallic dress that social media users compared with a 'potato sack' and a sofa cover.

The 35-year-old former television anchor was seen walking towards the presidential helicopter near the Ellipse. She carried a large black bag and paired the sleeveless outfit with light beige heels.

Harp appeared to be wearing Cinq à Sept's Adeline Metallic Bouclé Sheath Dress, a style listed at $435 (£324.71). However, neither Harp nor a representative was quoted confirming the identity of the garment, and it is not known whether she purchased the dress or paid the listed price.

Natalie Harp's Dress Draws Online Attention

The dress has been listed at $435, while a lower price of $304.50 (£227.29) was shown in a Nordstrom listing indexed by Lyst. The price may have changed since the listing was indexed, and the available information does not establish the amount Harp paid.

The product listing describes the garment as a metallic bouclé sheath with gilded buttons, a jewel neckline, front button-patch pockets and fringe detailing. The dress is made from 90% polyester and 10% metallic fibres, and the listing says it should be dry-cleaned.

Its gold-toned appearance attracted attention after photographs of Harp were circulated online. The comments focused largely on the colour, texture and shape of the dress, with some users comparing it to household furnishings or loosely structured clothing.

One X user wrote, 'Natalie Harp with grandpa's massive diaper bag getting on Marine One.'

Another critic wrote, 'Wearing a potato sack for some reason,' while another labelled Harp 'Temu Ivanka.' The comments were opinions about Harp's appearance and did not establish anything about the quality, price or provenance of the dress.

Another commenter criticised Harp's beige shoes, saying they appeared repeatedly in her outfits. That was a social media user's observation and could not independently establish how often Harp had worn the same or a similar style.

The photographs also prompted comments about the large black bag Harp carried as she approached Marine One. Some posts speculated about matters unrelated to her clothing, but those claims were not established by the photographs or the reporting reviewed for this article.

Harp's Role in the White House

Harp has served as special assistant and executive assistant to the president since January 2025. Her frequent presence alongside Trump has made her a recognisable figure within the president's orbit, particularly when she is photographed travelling with him or working nearby.

Harp's growing visibility has followed months of media scrutiny of her role and frequent presence alongside Trump. She has been described in recent reporting as a close aide and has been photographed and filmed typing posts dictated by Trump for Truth Social.

Footage showing Harp typing does not, by itself, establish that she wrote, selected or approved the posts. It indicates that she has been involved in entering material for Trump's social media account while working alongside him.

Her role has therefore attracted interest beyond the clothing she wears. However, attention surrounding her position has also included speculation that goes beyond what has been established by photographs, public statements or available reporting.

In June, Harp's estranged brother, Preston Harp, spoke to reporters about her relationship with Trump. He described Trump as a 'national embarrassment' and characterised his sister's relationship with the president as 'very unhealthy.'

'She's just like his fan club,' he said.

Those were Preston Harp's personal characterisations and do not establish the nature of his sister's relationship with Trump.

Natalie Harp has not publicly responded to those comments in the reporting reviewed for this article.

Beckman Defends Harp

Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to Melania Trump, has rejected the wider speculation surrounding Harp. In an interview with Stella Escobedo, Beckman criticised media coverage of the Trump family and defended Harp.

'The liberal media is ridiculous,' Beckman said. 'They don't know anything about the first lady's personal and private life.'

He added, 'What they need to do is look in the mirror because they're all attacking this hardworking, very talented, very intelligent person in Natalie Harp.'

Beckman's comments concerned media coverage of Harp and the Trump family rather than the dress, the bag or the specific social media posts cited above. The statement also did not confirm the identity of Harp's clothing or indicate whether she had purchased the Cinq à Sept design at its listed price.

What the Photographs Show

The available photographs show Harp wearing, or appearing to wear, a gold-toned metallic dress while boarding Marine One. Product information indicates that the design resembles Cinq à Sept's Adeline Metallic Bouclé Sheath Dress, but the identification remains based on visual comparison rather than confirmation from Harp or her representative.

Social media users supplied a range of reactions, including comments about the dress, shoes and bag. Some of those responses were mocking, while others involved speculation that was not supported by the available evidence.

The confirmed details are therefore limited. Harp was photographed near Marine One on 18 September, carrying a large black bag and wearing a sleeveless metallic dress with light-coloured heels. The garment appeared similar to a Cinq à Sept style listed at $435, but neither the purchase price nor the identity of the dress has been confirmed.