Veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod criticized Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., for invoking President Donald Trump aide Natalie Harp during a fiery rally speech, arguing that the viral reference ultimately distracted from the senator’s broader message.
Ossoff set off a political firestorm Sunday when he claimed Trump was more interested in “travel with Natalie” than performing his duties as president.
Harp, Trump’s executive assistant, has been a member of the president’s inner circle for years. Her close relationship with Trump has also been the subject of scrutiny and speculation.
While Ossoff’s remark drew praise from some on the left, Axelrod argued Wednesday that the Georgia Democrat would have been better off leaving Harp out of the attack.
“No one has been more consistently eloquent or incisive in exposing @realDonaldTrump than @Ossoff,” Axelrod wrote on X.
Axelrod described the relevant portion of Ossoff’s speech as a “brutal takedown,” but said the two words “with Natalie” were “gratuitous and unnecessary.”
“They juiced the virality of it, I’m sure,” Axelrod wrote. “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.”
The controversy has fueled renewed attention on Harp, 35, who previously worked as an anchor for the pro-Trump One America News network before becoming a prominent figure in Trump’s orbit.
Harp has reportedly demonstrated fierce loyalty to Trump, including through what have been described as “devotional letters.”
“You are all that matters to me,” Harp reportedly told Trump in one such message.
A recent CNN report also detailed the lengths Harp has allegedly gone to in order to remain close to the president.
According to the report, Harp once sat in the trunk of an SUV in Trump’s motorcade so she could accompany the president to a court appearance.
The incident reportedly occurred after there was not enough room for Harp in the motorcade, prompting her to make sure she could still travel with the president.
Ossoff’s remarks have since turned Harp into a major topic of political discussion, bringing fresh scrutiny to a White House aide who has been part of Trump’s inner circle for years.
But Axelrod’s criticism focused less on Harp herself and more on Ossoff’s decision to bring her into his attack.
The longtime Democratic strategist argued that while mentioning Harp may have helped Ossoff’s comments explode online, the added attention came at a cost.
For Axelrod, Ossoff already had a powerful political attack against Trump — and the “with Natalie” line only distracted from it.
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