Trump praises aide Margo Martin's looks at Oklahoma rally; online talk about Natalie Harp
At an Oklahoma rally, Trump called communications adviser Margo Martin "beautiful" from the stage. Outlets then focused on how fellow aide Natalie Harp might feel, though one reports no evidence of any rivalry.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2President Donald Trump brought 31-year-old communications adviser Margo Martin, an Oklahoma native, onto the stage at a rally in Durant, Oklahoma, on Thursday 1 October, and praised her appearance, according to the Daily Beast as relayed by Raw Story. Raw StoryL “Trump brought 31-year-old communications adviser Margo Martin, an Oklahoma native, onto the stage in Durant, the Daily Beast reported.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Trump's appearance at a rally for Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei in Durant on October 1.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2Trump said: "You can never say that a woman is beautiful. If you say a woman is beautiful, that's the end of your political career. But, I'll say it anyway," and called her "a beautiful woman, inside and out". Raw StoryL “She is a beautiful woman, inside and out.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Hindustan TimesN “said she was a "beautiful woman, inside and out."” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Left · 1Gesturing to Martin's parents, he said he saw why she was good-looking and invoked "the racehorse theory". Raw StoryL “I see why she's good-looking, actually. You know, I believe in the racehorse theory.” Read at Raw Story ↗
Centre · 1Hindustan Times says Trump spent nearly two minutes praising Martin's work and appearance, called her a social media "sensation", and praised her loyalty. Hindustan TimesN “spent nearly two minutes praising her work and appearance.”“He also praised her loyalty and addressed her parents, who were at the rally” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Natalie Harp, Trump's 35-year-old executive assistant, was also at the rally as part of his entourage, and the moment prompted social media speculation about a rivalry between the two aides. Hindustan TimesN “Harp, 35, was also travelling with Trump during his Texas and Oklahoma campaign swing and was visible as part of his entourage”“prompted social media users to frame the moment as a possible rivalry between the two aides.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Hindustan Times stresses there is no evidence Harp is jealous and that neither aide has publicly addressed the speculation. Hindustan TimesN “There is, however, no evidence that Harp is jealous of Martin, and neither aide has publicly addressed the speculations.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Left · 1On the Daily Beast Podcast, Hugh Dougherty said Trump's praise was "the language of Trump" and noted earlier photos that appeared to show Trump shouting at Harp. Joanna Coles said she felt for Harp and suggested Trump was trying to pit the two women against each other, as she said he does with Cabinet members. Raw StoryL “We know that that's the language of Trump," Dougherty said.”“It seems that he's trying to pit them against each other, which is something we know he does with his Cabinet,"” Read at Raw Story ↗ Left · 1White House Communications Director Steven Cheung answered a request for comment by saying, "Joanna shouldn't be so jealous, it's not a good look for her." Raw StoryL “Joanna shouldn't be so jealous, it's not a good look for her," he said.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Mixed · 2Both women have worked in the White House since the start of Trump's second term, and each received a $45,000 cash gift from Trump, according to the Washington Post as cited by Raw Story. Hindustan Times, citing Reuters, says a third aide, Chamberlain Harris, also received one, and the White House said the payments were unrelated to official duties. Raw StoryL “Both women have worked in the White House since the first day of Trump's second term.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Trump gave $45,000 holiday cash gifts to Harp, Martin and another aide, Chamberlain Harris.”“the White House said they were unrelated to the aides' official duties” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames Trump's remarks as fawning ('gushes', 'fawned') and leads with Harp looking on, relying on Daily Beast podcast commentary that Trump is pitting aides against each other.
- Emphasis
- Trump's quotes, Daily Beast commentators' criticism, photos of Trump apparently shouting at Harp, and Cheung's retort.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not note that neither aide has commented or that there is no evidence of tension; omits the rally's candidate context.
- Charged language
- “gushes”“fawned”“pit them against each other”
- For example
-
“President Donald Trump fawned over a younger aide's looks at an Oklahoma rally Thursday as devoted aide Natalie Harp looked on.” — Raw Story
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Covers the online speculation about Harp and Martin, while cautioning that there is no evidence of jealousy.
- Emphasis
- Social media reactions, the rally context (Mike Mazzei campaign), the aides' roles and the $45,000 gifts.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the Daily Beast commentators' view that Trump is pitting the aides against each other, the photos of Trump shouting at Harp, and Cheung's response.
- Charged language
- “humiliated”“thirst over younger aide”
- For example
-
“There is, however, no evidence that Harp is jealous of Martin, and neither aide has publicly addressed the speculations.” — Hindustan Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Trump called Margo Martin onto the stage at an Oklahoma rally in Durant and called her a 'beautiful woman, inside and out'.
- Martin is a 31-year-old communications adviser; her parents were present.
- Natalie Harp was also at the rally.
- Trump gave Harp and Martin $45,000 holiday cash gifts.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the moment reflects tension involving Harp
- Left
- Raw Story relays Daily Beast commentators who say they feel for Harp and that Trump seems to be pitting the women against each other.
- Centre
- Hindustan Times says the rivalry talk is online speculation, with no evidence Harp is jealous and no comment from either aide.
Donald Trump person
Said on stage that one cannot call a woman beautiful without ending a political career, then did so anyway and praised Martin and her parents.
“But, I'll say it anyway," Trump said” — Raw Story
Margo Martin person
Martin has not publicly addressed the speculation, according to Hindustan Times.
“neither aide has publicly addressed the speculations” — Hindustan Times
Natalie Harp person
Harp has not publicly addressed the speculation. Raw Story notes she has called Trump her 'Guardian and Protector in this Life'.
“Harp has called Trump her "Guardian and Protector in this Life" in letters published by the Daily Beast.” — Raw Story
“neither aide has publicly addressed the speculations” — Hindustan Times
Left1 article
-
Trump gushes over 'beautiful' younger aide onstage as Natalie Harp looks on
Critical Presents Trump's praise of Martin as fawning, with Harp watching, and amplifies Daily Beast commentary alleging a divide-and-rule tactic.
Centre1 article
-
Is Natalie Harp 'jealous' of Margo Martin? Trump's praise for younger aide fuels online speculations
Mixed Reports social media gossip about a Harp–Martin rivalry in its headline but states in the text that there is no evidence for it.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 3 Oct 02:13 First Raw StoryL Trump gushes over 'beautiful' younger aide onstage as Natalie Harp looks on
- 3 Oct 06:23 +4h 10m Hindustan TimesN Is Natalie Harp 'jealous' of Margo Martin? Trump's praise for younger aide fuels online speculations
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.