- Jon Ossoff criticized Donald Trump and referenced his aide Natalie Harp during a rally, stating, 'He doesn’t want to do the job of the president. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar.'
- Newt Gingrich stated that Ossoff owes Harp an apology, accusing him of misogynistic language and suggesting that if a conservative had made similar comments, there would be significant backlash.
- Meghan McCain criticized the coverage of Ossoff's comments, calling them 'egregious sexist attacks' on Harp and questioning the motives of the journalists involved.
- Natalie Harp worked for a year in the White House without a security clearance and reportedly declined to complete the clearance process for unknown reasons.
- Harp has a history of adoring letters sent to Trump, where she expressed her admiration and referred to him as her 'Guardian and Protector'.
- In 2023, Harp jumped in the trunk of an SUV to be close to Trump due to a lack of space in his motorcade.
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff's recent remarks during a rally have drawn sharp criticism from GOP leaders, particularly for his comments about Donald Trump and aide Natalie Harp. Ossoff suggested Trump is more interested in personal pursuits than fulfilling presidential duties, stating, “He doesn’t want to do the job” and instead wants to “build his ballroom and travel with Natalie” on a lavish trip.14
The backlash was swift, with Newt Gingrich demanding an apology from Ossoff, arguing that if a conservative had made similar remarks about a liberal woman, it would have been deemed unacceptable. He stated, “If a conservative Republican had attacked a liberal Democrat working professional woman the way Ossoff smeared Natalie Harp, there would be cries to kick them off the ticket”.2
Meghan McCain also condemned Ossoff's comments, labeling them as “egregious sexist attacks” and questioning the media's response. She remarked, “What is wrong with everyone?! Every president has close aides and sometimes they are females. Like what year is this?!” Harp, who has been a loyal aide to Trump, has faced scrutiny for her close relationship with him, including reports of her jumping into an SUV trunk to stay close to him.3
Despite the controversy, Harp has expressed gratitude towards Trump, claiming he “saved her life” by signing legislation that provided her access to experimental cancer treatment when she was younger.
“Harp, who reportedly worked a year without security clearance and sent Trump letters calling him her 'Guardian and Protector,' has become a flashpoint. Gingrich accused Ossoff of 'misogynistic language,' while McCain questioned 'what year is this?!' over the coverage.”
The Guardian
