U.S. President Donald Trump gave $45,000 in cash to his executive assistant Natalie Harp, nicknamed the "human printer" for habitually printing information for the Republican wherever he goes, U.S. media reported.

Two other White House employees, Margo Martin and Chamberlain Harris, received similar amounts, according to The Washington Post.

The three women described the payments as "cash holiday gifts," the newspaper reported, citing financial disclosure forms.

Harp accompanies Trump almost constantly during his second term. In addition to printing information, she writes social media messages for him.

The 35-year-old earns $150,000 per year as a special advisor and executive assistant to the president, according to an annual report submitted to Congress.

A White House spokesperson defended the gifts, stating it is a "long-standing practice of Trump to make Christmas gifts to people in his orbit, including, on occasion, employees and collaborators." The spokesperson added that the gifts are not related to the positions held by these individuals, making them "completely permissible under the relevant legal and ethical standards."