President Donald Trump turned his wife’s absence into a punchline during his trip to Ireland, but his controversial aide Natalie Harp was right by his side while he made his grand entrance at the ambassador’s residence. 

Trump scored a huge laugh as he revealed why his wife Melania declined to join him on his trip to Ireland.

The President turned the First Lady’s absence into a punchline as he addressed an audience in Dublin shortly after he landed at 8.23am local time.

Trump told his listeners that his wife was ‘there in spirit’ and considered herself ‘very friendly’ with the Irish ambassador.

The president revealed he invited her on the trip but that the First Lady quipped: ‘Well, it’s a seven-hour trip. Maybe I’m not that friendly.’

The remarks prompted laughter and applause, including from the President’s controversial aide Natalie Harp, who was faithfully at her boss’s side during the trip.

Trump is in Ireland this weekend to meet business leaders and attend the Irish Open golf tournament at his resort in Doonbeg. 

After a brief meeting with Irish President Catherine Connolly, he arrived at Deerfield Residence, where Irish Ambassador Edward Walsh resides, for a speech to local business leaders. 

Donald Trump joked that the first lady decided not to attend his trip to Ireland because ‘it’s a seven-hour trip’

Melania Trump did not join her husband for his trip to Ireland. She did attend a commemoration on Friday at the Pentagon for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks 

Natalie Harp, who has made headlines recently for her relationship to the president, was in attendance during his trip to Ireland

The ambassador’s residence was decked out with a red carpet as the president waltzed in for his remarks. 

Among those he was seen greeting was Harp, his executive assistant, who has made headlines in recent weeks. 

Harp is a former One America News host who joined Trump’s team in 2022 and now serves as his personal secretary, often within a few feet of the President. 

She is known as the ‘human printer’ for carrying a portable printer and supplying paper copies of news articles and social media posts throughout the day. 

Trump and Harp’s bond became the center of media attention in August when Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff told a rally that Trump would rather ‘build his ballroom and travel with Natalie’ than do his job.

She wrote Trump a series of personal letters in 2023, telling him in one: ‘You are all that matters to me.’ 

Harp’s alleged cash gifts from the president have also raised eyebrows. A former White House ‘ethics czar’ has called for an investigation after reports that Harp and two other officials received cash from Trump. 

Harp, Chamberlain Harris and Margo Martin received $135,000 between them, each identifying Trump as the source of a ‘cash gift for the holidays.’

Harp was among the President’s entourage during his visit to Ireland. She is seen above shaking hands with Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly

Harp was all smiles shaking hands with delegation members at the ambassador’s residence 

Harp was seen speaking with political consultant Christopher LaCivita as they awaited Trump’s remarks 

The Campaign Legal Center has filed a complaint with the US Office of Government Ethics over the president’s handouts. 

‘The President has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including at times employees and aides, both in government and in his time in the private sector,’ a White House spokesperson told Politico. 

‘The gifts at issue here have nothing to do with any of these individuals’ official government duties, and, therefore, are entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards.’

A spokesperson for Melania Trump’s office has shut down any speculation regarding her husband’s relationship with Harp. 

‘The liberal media is ridiculous,’ the First Lady’s top spokesman, Marc Beckman, told host Stella Escobedo during an interview on Wednesday.

‘They don’t know anything about the First Lady’s personal and private life. They don’t even take the time to put us on air to cover these incredible achievements that our First Lady has accomplished.’ 

‘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,’ added Beckman.

‘And they’re obsessed with the gossip with the first family. And I can tell you firsthand that it’s time for them to become journalists and stop looking at the gossip.’

Donald Trump Jr (far right) was in attendance for the Ireland trip alongside his partner Bettina Anderson (middle) 

US Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh and his wife Lynn walked the red carpet at their residence to welcome the president 

Harp was spotted shaking hands with delegates and President Catherine Connolly outside the ambassador’s residence on Saturday. 

She was all smiles as she waited for Trump’s remarks and was even seen chatting with political consultant Christopher LaCivita.

The president’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr, are also attending the weekend trip. Donald Jr was seen waiting for his father’s remarks alongside his partner, Bettina Anderson at the ambassador’s residence. 

Trump also visited with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin, and said he would love to see the reunification of the Republic of Ireland with the UK’s Northern Ireland.

‘I don´t want to cause any problems but I´d love to see it unified,’ Trump said. ‘It´s going to happen eventually. It may as well happen now.

‘I think it would be a fantastic thing,’ he said, adding that ‘the UK will have something to say about it, obviously.’

Trump spoke with Irish President Catherine Connolly briefly after landing in Ireland for his non-state visit 

Trump met with Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the Farmleigh House where he expressed that he would ‘love’ to see the reunification of the Republic of Ireland with the UK’s Northern Ireland 

Trump flew overnight to Ireland after observing the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. 

He is set to attend The Irish Open, the second European Tour event to be held at a Trump property this year. The Nexo Championship was held last month at Trump’s golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Last year, Trump went to Scotland for five days to play golf at his club in Turnberry and later inaugurated a new Trump golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. During that visit, he held talks with the British prime minister and the president of the European Commission.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.