Donald Trump's associates and friends 'still go via his longtime Trump Tower secretary to contact him'

'Do you know the number of people who have his cell phone? It’s a joke,' says source

His old gatekeeper, who lives in New York, is said to link up Trump's contacts with his personal assistant in the White House, who she helped train up during the transition period (Rex)

Donald Trump might live in the White House but his friends and associates appear to be getting in touch with him via his old Trump Tower secretary.

Rhona Graff, who joined the Trump Organisation in 1987, has reportedly been working as a middle man for people who want to get in contact with the president. Since his inauguration, these associates have been using Ms Graff to privately offer Mr Trump advice, make suggestions for staff picks and arrange times to meet the billionaire property magnate at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

According to seven Trump associates who spoke to Politico, Ms Graff continues to pass on messages from acquaintances and friends of the president. Many of these contacts have used her to get in touch with Mr Trump for years.

Two associates, who requested anonymity to ensure they did not risk their access to the president, claimed Mr Trump directed them to get in touch with his longtime secretary instead of the White House.

Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally who advised the former reality TV star throughout his campaign, called Ms Graff a point of contact for “anyone who thinks the system in Washington will block their access.”

“I go through Rhona,” Stone said. “She’s a woman of excellent judgment who reflects her boss’ views. She has to field requests from a lot of people.”

“If I wanted to get something to Trump without calling his cellphone, I’d send it to Rhona,” one Trump confidant said.

“Do you know the number of people who have his cell phone? It’s a joke” said a source who has the president’s number.

New York grocery billionaire John Catsimatidis, who has been involved in the city’s Republican politics for years and is a long-time ally of Mr Trump, said: “If I really wanted to whisper something in his ear, I would probably go to Rhona”.

Ms Graff, who lives in New York, is said to link up Trump's contacts with his personal assistant in the White House, who she helped train up during the transition period.

White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters, however, denied Ms Graff informally serves as a go-between, insisting: “All correspondence goes through the White House”.

The White House is constrained by the Federal Records Act, which requires the preservation of all records including schedules and correspondence from the president, the vice president and their staff in the National Archives.

Ms Graff, who is a senior vice president at the Trump Organisation and sat outside Mr Trump's Trump Tower office as his assistant, has long been a gatekeeper to him and an enduring presence in his business dealings for over twenty years.