Conservative figures and media outlets have sharply criticized U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia, following his remarks about Donald Trump's relationship with his executive assistant, Natalie Harp. Ossoff, who is reportedly considered a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, made the comments at a rally on Sunday.
During the rally, Ossoff referenced Trump's close association with Harp, who is 35 years old. He stated, "See, he doesn't want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar." The remarks drew cheers from supporters at the event.
Conservative Backlash
Following Ossoff's comments, a strong backlash emerged from conservatives. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna accused Ossoff of making "arrogant, sexist" remarks and suggested he was spreading "rude, disgusting rumors" rather than addressing significant issues. Luna also praised Harp for her work and for being a bone cancer survivor.
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CNN's Scott Jennings also criticized Ossoff's remarks, stating on Monday, "This is quite a message for the Democratic Party to send to young women working in politics. Party of women? Pretty ugly stuff."
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung escalated the criticism, referring to Ossoff as "Jon Jackoff" and calling him a "cuck loser." Cheung suggested Ossoff was a "miserable person who hates this country" because he is a "radical, extremist Dumocrat."
Ossoff's Response and Trump's Reaction
In an interview with MS Now on Monday night, Ossoff addressed the media attention. He explained that he mentioned Harp because he believes she is one of Trump's "enablers." Ossoff elaborated, "Well, I’ve heard this particular aide referred to as his security blanket. And I think we could say that about any number of the senior aides in the White House. They’re not telling him what he needs to hear. They’re telling him what he wants to hear."
Donald Trump responded to a question about his relationship with Harp from a female CNN reporter by shouting "quiet." When asked about Ossoff's claim that he would rather "build his ballroom and travel with Natalie" than perform presidential duties, Trump called Ossoff a "Pee-wee Herman lookalike" and stated that "we're fixing a White House that hasn't been taken care of."
Scrutiny of Trump's Aide
Natalie Harp has been a close aide to Trump for years and is reportedly nicknamed the "human printer" for carrying news articles for him. Scrutiny of her closeness to Trump has increased as other reports suggest Melania Trump has participated in fewer events during his current term compared to his first. She notably did not attend events such as Lindsey Graham’s funeral, the revamped White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, or the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members killed in Iran.
In contrast, Harp has been seen accompanying Trump at events, including at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey and during a security-related departure from Air Force One in Turkey. Reports from New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan's book "Regime Change" indicate that Harp left personal notes for Trump and that Trump told staffers Harp loved him as much as his wife and children. The book also suggests that Harp's notes drew the attention of the Secret Service.