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Bill Maher has defended Donald Trump's fiercely loyal blonde aide Natalie Harp, questioning why she has suddenly become America's latest political punching bag.

The comedian, who has spent years skewering Trump and his inner circle, suggested the intense scrutiny surrounding the 34-year-old White House staffer had crossed a line, declaring: 'I don't know why you have to go after her.'

Maher complimented her work ethic, and even rhetorically asked why he couldn't also find and hire a Millennial on his team that worked as hard as she does.

Harp has found herself at the center of a political firestorm over her extremely close working relationship with the president, after Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff took a swipe at Trump by quipping that he would rather 'travel with Natalie' than do his job.

The remark triggered fury among Trump supporters, who accused the Georgia senator of making a sexist insinuation about the pair.

But Maher, 70, waded into the growing controversy during his Friday night Real Time monologue and despite cracking several jokes at Harp's expense, ultimately came down firmly on her side.

'The Democratic Party has a new attack dog and he's very good at it. Senator Jon Ossoff,' Maher began.

'He really went after Trump this week and in the middle of it he mentioned Natalie Harp.

Bill Maher defended Trump aide Natalie Harp after she became the focus of renewed scrutiny over her close relationship with the president

Maher jokingly described Harp as Trump’s ‘emotional support employee’ because she travels extensively with him

'That's the young lady who works for Trump. When he got on the catering cart she came with him off the plane. So this has set all sorts of rumors going on now about their relationship.'

But Maher then warned that he was not about to venture any further into speculation about Harp and her boss having already learned an expensive lesson about making jokes concerning women close to Trump.

'Okay, let me tell you folks, I got sued about this once,' he said. 'No, not the orangutan.'

That was a reference to Trump's previous lawsuit against Maher after the comedian joked about the then-businessman's parentage and challenged him to prove he was not the 'spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan.'

Maher was actually referring to his more recent legal battle with conservative activist Laura Loomer, who sued him after he joked that she and Trump could be in an 'arranged relationship.'

'No, this was just a couple of years ago. Laura Loomer sued me,' Maher continued.

'Okay, I won by the way, but it's, uh, it's expensive and unpleasant to get sued, so you know what, I took one for the team on this, you handle it.'

Harp's relationship with Trump has attracted extraordinary attention because of the unusual level of access she enjoys to the president.

She is regularly photographed close to Trump and has become an almost ever-present figure in his orbit.

President Donald Trump steps off Marine One along with Natalie Harp. Maher said Harp appears ‘incredibly devoted to her job’ and joked about how hard she works for the president

Harp battled bone cancer in her 20s and has credited Trump with speeding access to experimental treatments she believes helped her. The pair are pictured in 2019

Maher sarcastically branded her Trump's 'emotional support employee' - but then turned his fire on those targeting her.

'All I'm going to say… Natalie is kind of Trump's emotional support employee, that's true,' he said.

'She travels with him everywhere and she brings a portable wireless printer so she can print out flattering news articles.'

Maher could not resist another dig at the president.

'Trump is old school,' he joked. 'He wants hard copies of the smoke blowing up his a**.'

But then he went on to defend Harp.

'But that's on him,' Maher said. 'I don't know why you have to go after her, you know?'

He argued that whatever critics might think of Trump, Harp appeared to be a dedicated employee.

'She seems incredibly devoted to her job, never takes a day off,' Maher said.

'Sometimes she works so hard she forgets to eat and sleep, and now everyone in America is saying the same thing: 'Why can't I get a Millennial who works like that?''

Behind Harp's fierce loyalty to Trump is a deeply personal story.

Harp’s reported duties include helping type Trump’s statements for social media and providing him with positive news coverage that she prints out using a portable printer

President Donald Trump drafts a Truth Social post alongside Vice President JD Vance and Assistant to the President Natalie Harp

She survived bone cancer in her 20s and has publicly credited the president's first administration with helping expand access to experimental treatments that she believes helped save her life.

Maher suggested Harp had now been sucked into the vicious cycle of American politics in which a previously little-known figure can suddenly become a national target.

'In America it's just like, 'oh good, someone new to hate',' he said.

Harp's prominence has become increasingly difficult to miss.

She was among a select group of officials who accompanied Trump when he was moved from Air Force One to another aircraft in Turkey following an Iranian security threat.

Many Cabinet officials, journalists and other members of the traveling party were left behind while Trump and a smaller group were moved under Secret Service protection but Harp made the cut.

Her devotion to Trump has also fueled questions about just how influential she has become.

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman said this week that the Secret Service had previously been 'alarmed' by some letters Harp wrote to Trump.

One of the messages reportedly included the striking declaration: 'You are all that matters to me.'

'The Secret Service had gotten alarmed by some of them,' Haberman said. 'That was not– well, that was notable. That was a campaign. That was different. She is now in the government.'

Haberman stressed that Harp's position now extends far beyond that of an enthusiastic campaign supporter.

'She sits 10 feet away from the president,' she said.

'She is a stream of information to him. He does rely on her. And I don't expect that to change.'