Why the media is suddenly so interested in Trump aide Natalie Harp, and how coverage differs
One of President Donald Trump’s aides is in the spotlight this week after Sen. John Ossoff made comments about her frequent travel with the president. The comments sparked backlash from the White House, questions from CNN and criticism of one reporter and her network.
But what’s the history of the president and his aide? Why is the media suddenly so interested in Natalie Harp?
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Things came to a head for Harp, who currently serves as Trump’s executive assistant, when Ossoff briefly mentioned her during a campaign speech in Georgia over the weekend.
Ossoff was criticizing Trump’s presidency, saying, “he doesn’t wanna do the job.” He then pulled Harp into the speech.
“He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace,” Ossoff said.
Those comments went viral on social media and eventually sparked a response from the White House.
In a post on X, White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung called Ossoff “Jon Jackoff” and said he “has to be the biggest cuck loser in politics.”
“Instead of denigrating hard-working people serving their country, Jon should look deep into his soul and ask himself why he’s a miserable person who hates this country,” Cheung wrote. “It’s because he’s a radical, extremist Dumocrat.”
CNN questions the president
It wasn’t long before CNN got involved.
On Monday, when the president was taking questions from the Oval Office, CNN’s Kristen Holmes asked Trump for his reaction to Ossoff’s comments.
Trump abruptly responded, saying, “Quiet, quiet. Fake news. You’re a loud, boisterous person. You’re fake news. Be quiet. You’re a fake reporter.”
The White House official rapid response account later shared another response, calling Holmes “a disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment to her alleged profession.”
“Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question,” it wrote to Holmes on X. “They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive. It’s quite troubling.”
CNN issued its own statement defending Holmes.
“Kristen Holmes is one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House,” CNN wrote. “Public officials are free to challenge reporting they disagree with, but personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press.”
The media is covering the controversy, but not in the same way
The story spread quickly across news organizations. However, the angle and specific details vary between left-leaning and right-leaning outlets.
CNN covered the story from the outset — focusing on Natalie Harp and who she is, as well as Ossoff’s comments. On Monday, the outlet shared a story headlined: “Who is Natalie Harp? Ossoff ignites personal feud over Trump’s aide.”
The story provides background on Harp, who she is to the president, and the latest comments from the White House.
NBC News took a similar approach, with a similar headline: “Who is Natalie Harp? Sen. Jon Ossoff puts Trump aide in spotlight.”
Meanwhile, Fox News has covered only the controversy between the White House and CNN, mentioning Ossoff briefly in the article.
“CNN fires back at Trump White House over attacks on reporter, calls them ‘beneath the office,’” Fox headlined its article Monday.
And the Daily Wire took a stark approach, writing, “‘Scumbag Weasel’: Ossoff Scorched Over Cheap Shot On Cancer-Surviving Trump Assistant.”
In general terms, according to Ground News, right-leaning coverage portrays Ossoff as “dragging” Harp in an “attack.” Meanwhile, it says left-leaning coverage portrays Ossoff’s comments as “exposing Trump’s ‘personal projects,’ golfing, and a ‘curiously gross relationship’ with aide Natalie Harp.”
And while Ossoff sparked the recent surge in coverage, his role has been largely bypassed. Left-leaning outlets put Ossoff in their headlines, then focused the meat of their articles on Harp.
Meanwhile, right-leaning articles praise Harp, criticize CNN and leave out or only briefly mention Ossoff at all.