Topline

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., defended his comments about Trump aide Natalie Harp amid intense blowback from President Donald Trump and his allies this week, accusing the White House of having a “melt down” over his remarks—as some on the left have questioned whether Ossoff went too far.

Key Facts

Ossoff said “it’s been amazing to watch this White House melt down over this all week,” he told MS NOW on Wednesday when asked about his comments.

The senator said Sunday during a campaign rally that Trump “wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar,” referring to Harp reportedly being among a select group of aides chosen to fly out of Turkey with Trump on a secret flight amid an alleged threat from Iran.

The comment has since gone viral, and Ossoff has repeatedly doubled down on the remarks, despite some on the right accusing him of pushing innuendo about the much-younger Harp and some on the left suggesting the comments went too far.

Ossoff told MS NOW, “these White House staffers are adults, public officials paid by the taxpayer, with immense power in positions of public trust.”

He said “whether it’s Natalie Harp printing out Donald Trump’s daily dose of delusion and flattery” or other aides who have facilitated what he described as poor decision making by Trump, Ossoff said, “no one cares about their feelings.”

When asked by MS NOW whether he was trying to "specifically provoke Donald Trump” with some of his more incendiary criticism, Ossoff said, “I’m trying to make sure that folks in Georgia know the truth about this administration. And apparently in the White House, the truth hurts.”

Chief Critic

“No one has been more consistently eloquent or incisive in exposing @realDonaldTrump than @Ossoff. The paragraph from his weekend speech that has gotten so much attention was a brutal takedown. But two words in it, ‘with Natalie’ seemed gratuitous and unnecessary,” Democratic strategist David Axelrod tweeted. “They juiced the virality of it, I'm sure. Probably thrilled some in the base, who figured it was just giving Trump a taste of his own nasty medicine.

But they distracted and detracted from the power of the message.”

Key Background

Trump and his allies have attacked Ossoff in the wake of the comments. Trump on Monday reprised his nickname for Ossoff, “Pee-wee Herman,” when asked about his Harp comments. The White House later attacked the CNN reporter who asked the question, calling it “disgusting and inhumane” and claiming her children will “be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive.” White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said Ossoff is “a miserable person who hates this country.” CNN pundit Scott Jennings, who is widely speculated to be vying for the White House press secretary job, blasted Ossoff as “a disgusting coward,” accusing Ossoff of veiled sexism and attacking “an unknown presidential aide.” Ossoff, in defending his remarks, has said he made an example of Harp as one of the “sycophants” Trump surrounds himself with. Harp was coined the “human printer” during Trump’s 2024 campaign, because she carried a printer around and printed off information that might appeal to Trump, reportedly raising alarm among others in Trump’s inner circle because she would source from conspiratorial sources and present Trump with overly positive clips about himself. She is so devoted to the president, she has written him notes expressing her unwavering loyalty, including one that said “you are all that matters to me” and she’s been spotted sprinting after him on the golf course, according to The New York Times, and jumping into the back of an SUV to ensure a place in his entourage, CNN reported.

further reading

Jon Ossoff Blasts Trump ‘Sycophants’ As He Doubles Down On Natalie Harp Dig (Forbes)

Natalie Harp Seen Everywhere With Trump Lately—Why That’s Raising Questions (Forbes)