Photograph of Trump with aides captures presidency's turmoil, columnist writes

The Marine One image shows President Donald Trump with now-fired press secretary Katie Zacharia and special assistant Natalie Harp, as his inner circle faces infighting and scandals.

By LineZotpaper

Published18 October 2026

Updated18 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

A New York Times opinion column by Maureen Dowd argues that a candid photograph of President Donald Trump on Marine One with two blonde aides captures his hunger for adulation at a moment when his White House bubble is shrinking and fracturing. The piece, syndicated in Australian newspapers, details the firing of press secretary Katie Zacharia after just five days and a cascade of scandals engulfing Trump's inner circle.

The photograph, taken by New York Times photographer Doug Mills, shows President Trump leaning in to speak to then-press secretary Katie Zacharia and special assistant Natalie Harp on Marine One. Dowd writes that the image, shot from a distance with a long lens, "bristles with intimacy" and depicts Trump's craving for blind devotion as public support wanes.

Zacharia was appointed press secretary but was eased out by Friday. According to the column, Trump told her, "Honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider," as he later recounted to reporters. During her first press conference, when asked where she had passed the bar, Zacharia replied, "When I moved to China," prompting Trump to snap his head around. The column notes she had not passed the bar anywhere, despite Trump describing her as an attorney when announcing her appointment.

The column describes Harp, called the "Human Printer," who trails the president with a portable printer to show him flattering coverage. Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, is partially visible in the photograph but mostly cut out of the frame. Dowd writes that Wiles had attempted to curb Harp's access, alarmed by her fixation on the president, but failed. Dowd writes that Harp showed Trump a Politico Playbook story reporting that Wiles' daughter Katie works for a firm representing a pro-Russian Bosnian Serb territory; a Daily Beast headline said it sparked a Trump "freakout".

Dowd also recounts a series of recent embarrassing stories: Kimberly Guilfoyle's collapse as ambassador to Greece after a donor alleged she tried to shake him down for $100,000; Trump loyalist Ric Grenell accused by Alina Habba Mildon of misallocating a $5.6 million donation at the Kennedy Centre; and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing betrayal over Trump's dealings with Vladimir Putin on diesel oil and restricted access to Elon Musk's Starshield. The column adds that Trump cancelled a Pentagon plan to livestream an execution.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The column highlights intense internal White House conflicts and a string of scandals, suggesting a fractured administration.
Zacharia's rapid firing underscores staffing instability and the president's reliance on loyalists with questionable qualifications.
The cascade of stories about aides profiting from foreign consulting and donor controversies could affect perceptions of the administration ahead of midterm elections.

Background

Maureen Dowd is a New York Times columnist; her column runs in Australia in the Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and WAtoday. The column draws on reporting by Politico, The Daily Beast, and other outlets to paint a picture of a White House consumed by internal rivalries and external scandals. Trump has long surrounded himself with loyalists, and the piece focuses on the dynamics between senior staff and younger aides who cater to his ego.

Key Perspectives

President Donald Trump: The column portrays him as craving adulation and surrounding himself with aides who reinforce his worldview, while reportedly bristling at reports of other advisers profiting from foreign consulting. Critics and opponents: The piece adopts a critical view, arguing that the president is distracted by petty squabbles and corruption rather than governing. It notes Democrats seem headed for midterm success amid public fatigue with Trump. Aides and staff: The column describes infighting, with Natalie Harp and Katie Zacharia clinging to each other and to Trump, while Susie Wiles sought to limit their influence. Anonymous colleagues reportedly scorned the two women.

What to Watch

Whether further staff shake-ups occur as the president reportedly shops for a new chief of staff.
The fallout from the reported scandals involving Kimberly Guilfoyle, Ric Grenell, and alleged foreign consulting ties.
Midterm election results and whether they reflect the public disgust described in the column.

Sources

The intimate photograph that captures Trump’s hunger, just as his bubble bursts · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
The intimate photograph that captures Trump’s hunger, just as his bubble bursts · WA Today - Latest News
The intimate photograph that captures Trump’s hunger, just as his bubble bursts · Brisbane Times - Latest News

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedColumnist says photograph captures Trump's 'hunger' as his 'bubble bursts'Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “...at the very moment that Trump’s White House bubble is getting smaller and more ingrown and fractious than ever.”
SupportedNew York Times columnist Maureen Dowd uses a candid image of the president on Marine One to draw a portrait of his political momentSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Sometimes a candid photograph captures a moment in a presidency... It happened again when Doug Mills... took a picture on Tuesday of President Donald Trump on Marine One...”
SupportedA candid photograph of President Donald Trump boarding Marine One with two female aides has become the centrepiece of a New York Times columnSydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “It happened again when Doug Mills... took a picture on Tuesday of President Donald Trump on Marine One with his blonde aides/acolytes Katie Zacharia... and Natalie Harp...”
Partly supportedthe image reveals the president's 'hunger' at a moment when his 'bubble bursts'Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “It is a snapshot of Trump’s hunger for adulation... at the very moment that Trump’s White House bubble is getting smaller...”
SupportedThe column, syndicated in Australian outlets, draws parallels to historic presidential photos such as Lyndon B. Johnson yanking his beagle by the ears.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “It happened when LBJ yanked up his beagle by the ears for photographers and demonstrated his domineering leadership style.”
SupportedIn her column published on October 18, Maureen Dowd writes that sometimes a candid photograph captures the essence of a presidency.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Sometimes a candid photograph captures a moment in a presidency, and the essence of the officeholder, so tellingly that you get a penetrating portrait of an era.”
SupportedShe cites the image of former White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia and Special Assistant Natalie Harp joining President Trump on the Marine One helicopter.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Former White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia and Special Assistant Natalie Harp join President Donald Trump in Marine One on Tuesday.”
Partly supportedDowd uses the photo to illustrate what she describes as Trump's hunger and the bursting of his bubble, suggesting the image offers a penetrating portrait of the current era.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “It is a snapshot of Trump’s hunger for adulation... at the very moment that Trump’s White House bubble is getting smaller... you get a penetrating portrait of an era.”
SupportedThe column notes that comparable moments occurred when LBJ lifted his beagle by the ears for photographers and when a photographer captured George W. Bush in a telling pose.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “It happened when LBJ yanked up his beagle by the ears... It happened when a photographer captured George W. Bush being told... that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center. His look of shock raised questions...”
Sources say otherwiseDowd, a longtime New York Times columnist, offers no quotes from the president or his aides in the excerpted portion of the piece.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Zacharia reposted Mills’ photo with the caption, “Best President in U.S. History!!!” ... “Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,” Trump told her, as he later recounted to reporters. “When I moved to China,” she said.”

Correction

18 October 2026An earlier version of this story said the column quoted neither the president nor his aides. It quotes both, and the story has been rewritten from the full column.