{"id":2647062,"date":"2026-08-19T16:18:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/david-axelrod-criticizes-jon-ossoff-over-natalie-harp-jab\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T16:19:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T20:19:13","slug":"david-axelrod-criticizes-jon-ossoff-over-natalie-harp-jab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/david-axelrod-criticizes-jon-ossoff-over-natalie-harp-jab\/","title":{"rendered":"David Axelrod criticizes Jon Ossoff over Natalie Harp jab"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdavid-axelrod-criticizes-jon-ossoff-over-natalie-harp-jab%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2647062&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Obama adviser David Axelrod criticized Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff for referencing President Trump\u2019s aide Natalie Harp in a speech, arguing the personal mention distracted from the main attack on Trump. Axelrod highlighted that Ossoff&#8217;s remarks,which mocked Trump&#8217;s handling of the Iran war,included two words-&#8220;with Natalie&#8221;-that he considered gratuitous and needless,noting they increased the speech\u2019s virality but reduced its overall impact. The remark about Harp, Trump\u2019s aide frequently traveling with him, drew backlash from Trump supporters who accused Ossoff of making a sexist insinuation. trump responded by calling Ossoff a \u201cPee-wee Herman look-alike.\u201d Ossoff explained he mentioned Harp to criticize the entourage surrounding Trump, emphasizing that the President is surrounded by sycophants. The incident is part of Ossoff\u2019s increasingly confrontational approach ahead of the Georgia midterm elections, where he is seeking a second term against Republican Mike Collins. Despite recent polls favoring Ossoff, Georgia remains a competitive state, having been carried by Trump in 2024 and rated as a lean Democrat contest.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former Obama adviser<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/david-axelrod\/\"> David Axelrod<\/a> criticized <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jon-ossoff\/\">Sen. Jon Ossoff <\/a>(D-GA) on Wednesday for invoking <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">President Donald Trump <\/a>aide Natalie Harp in a viral speech, arguing the personal reference distracted from an otherwise powerful attack on the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo one has been more consistently eloquent or incisive in exposing @realDonaldTrump than @Ossoff,\u201d Axelrod <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/davidaxelrod\/status\/2090070517176811818?s=20\">wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cThe paragraph from his weekend speech that has gotten so much attention was a brutal takedown.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4693342\/sherrill-campaigning-new-hampshire-massachusetts-seth-moulton-fellow-veterans\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mikie Sherrill stumps in New Hampshire and Massachusetts for Seth Moulton and others<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4693434\/david-axelrod-jon-ossoff-natalie-harp-jab\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>David Axelrod knocks Jon Ossoff over \u2018gratuitous\u2019 Natalie Harp jab<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4692776\/trump-endorsement-power-embattled-gop-candidates\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump\u2019s GOP kingmaker power faces new test after string of primary losses<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Axelrod took issue with two words in Ossoff\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTwo words in it, \u2018with Natalie\u2019 seemed gratuitous and unnecessary,\u201d Axelrod wrote. \u201cThey juiced the virality of it, I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Axelrod was referring to remarks Ossoff delivered Sunday at a campaign rally in Atlanta, where the Georgia Democrat attacked Trump over his handling of the war with Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhile the sailors on the <em>Lincoln<\/em> fight his war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings, he golfs, and trades stocks,\u201d Ossoff said. \u201cSee, he doesn\u2019t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-calls-ossoff-pee-wee-herman-in-response-to-comments\/\" title=\"... calls Ossoff &#039;Pee...Wee Herman&#039; in response to comments\">apparently defenseless flying palace<\/a>, gifted by the Emir of Qatar.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reference was to Harp, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4689864\/who-is-natalie-harp-donald-trump-aide\/\">Trump\u2019s 35-year-old executive assistant<\/a> and a longtime member of his inner circle who frequently travels with the president. Harp was among a small group of aides who accompanied Trump during a secretive aircraft switch in Turkey last month amid concerns about a potential Iranian assassination attempt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The remark quickly went viral and drew backlash from Trump allies, who accused Ossoff of making a sexist insinuation about Harp\u2019s relationship with the president. Trump also responded, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690076\/trump-calls-jon-ossoff-pee-wee-herman-natalie-harp-comments\/\">calling Ossoff<\/a> a \u201cPee-wee Herman look-alike.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4690713\/jon-ossoff-zero-interest-2028-president\/\"><strong>JON OSSOFF SAYS HE HAS \u2018ZERO INTEREST\u2019 IN 2028 PRESIDENTIAL BID<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ossoff was pressed about the comment on Monday by former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki during <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/msnownews\/videos\/senator-jon-ossoff-invoked-president-trumps-executive-assistant-natalie-harp-dur\/1750978739488348\/\">an appearance<\/a> on <em>Ms Now<\/em>. Asked why he specifically mentioned Harp, Ossoff instead focused on the broader group surrounding Trump, saying the president is \u201csurrounded by sycophants\u201d who are unwilling to challenge him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exchange comes as Ossoff, who is seeking a second term against Republican Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-collins\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"17647\">Mike Collins<\/a> (R-GA), has adopted an increasingly combative posture toward Trump ahead of the November midterm elections. While recent polling has shown Ossoff with an advantage, Georgia remains highly competitive: Trump carried the state in 2024, and the <em>Cook Political Report<\/em> rates the race Lean Democrat, meaning Ossoff is favored, but the contest remains competitive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Axelrod criticizes Ossoff\u2019s Trump attack, citing distracting personal jab<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2647063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP22142811639192.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7375,34750,50448,84293,5894],"class_list":["post-2647062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-criticism","tag-david-axelrod","tag-jon-ossoff","tag-natalie-harp","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP22142811639192.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647062"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647062\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647066,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647062\/revisions\/2647066"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}