‘Display of Dominance’: Trump Aide Natalie Harp’s Handshake Gets Expert Attention

Morning Honey Staff Mon, September 14, 2026 at 9:30 AM UTC

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A body language expert compared Natalie Harp’s bold style to Melania Trump's royal courtesy. (Image Source: ZUMAPRESS.com/MEGA)

President Donald Trump arrived in Dublin, Ireland, with his key aide, Natalie Harp, close behind.

The 80-year-old president landed on September 12 for a two-day trip to attend the Irish Open and meet with top Irish leaders. He spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One the previous evening.

Natalie Harp Was Absent From the Initial Departure Entourage

Harp, who serves as Trump’s special assistant and executive assistant, was not seen with the main group at first. Instead, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., his new wife Bettina Anderson, and many grandchildren walked in the initial entourage. First Lady Melania Trump was also missing from the overseas trip, per The Irish Star.

However, cameras spotted Harp boarding the plane separately from the main group. Carrying a heavy bag, she chatted with White House director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta as they walked toward the aircraft.

After Air Force One landed in Dublin, Harp joined the Trump family and the rest of the U.S. delegation moving through the crowds. She had changed her clothing. She swapped a fitted black dress for a green dress with high nude stiletto heels.

Harp appeared in great spirits, and body language expert Darron Stantonpointed out key signs about the message she was sending.

Body Language Expert Details Natalie Harp’s Appearance

Speaking to the Irish Star on behalf of Covers, Stanton analyzed Harp’s confident arrival.

He said, “Natalie has a long stride in how she’s walking; she is very confident. We can see this too in her strides; she appears almost military-like, with her hands at her side.”

Stanton noted that her body language showed strong focus, “She’s very comfortable meeting Trump and keen to give him a positive impression.”

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He added, “She’s very keen to show America’s solidarity to Ireland and the positive relationship. Facially, no micro expressions of any fear or nervousness. There were no pacifying gestures of self-soothing; she carries herself very well and was keen to convey a real level of confidence.”

The expert also highlighted her strong greeting style, “One of the most interesting moments is her handshake. Natalie appears to pull the other person slightly towards her, which can be interpreted as a display of dominance.”

Per The Mirror US, Stanton explained that this tactic mirrors Trump’s own style: “It’s reminiscent of Trump’s own approach and the way he has often used strong handshakes to assert his presence and authority. Natalie seems to have made a conscious decision about how she wants to be perceived here – as gracious, but also strong and confident.”

He observed that her posture stayed firm, “She doesn’t display any obvious submissive gestures. Her posture is upright, her shoulders are back and she maintains strong eye contact during the greeting.”

However, he noticed a quick shift, “However, there is a noticeable change as Natalie walks into the building. At that point, she doesn’t appear to make eye contact with those around her, and there is very little conversation or interaction as she walks.”

Stanton then compared Harp’s actions to Melania Trump’s calm style when hosting King Charles and Queen Camilla. “By comparison, Melania appears to take a slightly different approach during her interaction with Queen Camilla. She subtly matches Camilla’s posture, which helps create a sense of rapport between the two.”

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Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”