Tertius News is an AI-native newsroom: an AI model reads the linked source articles below and extracts what each outlet reported, so you can compare their coverage side by side. How this works →
New information became available — this story may be updated shortly.
Natalie Harp brother’s stunned reaction says it all as he’s told she once jumped in the trunk of Trump motorcade SUV
Sen. Jon Ossoff's joke about President Trump's aide Natalie Harp has sparked a fierce backlash, with White House allies defending Harp and attacking the senator. Harp's estranged brother described her loyalty as 'unhealthy obsession' after learning she reportedly jumped into an SUV trunk to accompany Trump.
A comment by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff at a rally in Georgia has thrust Natalie Harp, one of President Donald Trump's closest aides, into the national spotlight. Ossoff, criticizing Trump's work ethic, said the president "doesn't want to do the job" and instead "wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace." The remark, reported by multiple outlets, was widely interpreted as insinuating an inappropriate relationship between Trump and Harp.
Harp, 35, holds the official titles of executive assistant and special assistant to the president. She first gained national attention in 2019 when she credited Trump with saving her life through his support for the Right to Try law, which he signed in 2018. After speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention, she later worked directly for Trump, joining his staff in 2022 after a stint at One America News Network.
'Human Printer' and Unusual Loyalty
Harp earned the nickname "human printer" during Trump's 2024 campaign for carrying a portable printer to produce flattering social media posts and positive news articles for the president. The New York Times has reported on her "devotional letters" to Trump, including one signed "With all my heart, Natalie," in which she apologized for being "an embarrassment walking the course in Scotland" and said she had been "distracted all week," forgetting to eat and sleeping only a couple hours at a time. The Times also reported she sprinted across a Scottish golf course to keep up with Trump's cart.
CNN reported that in October 2023, Harp jumped into the back of an SUV trunk to accompany Trump to a court appearance in New York after a "screaming match" in the lobby of Trump Tower when there was no room for her in the motorcade. The network cited two unnamed sources and a photo. The trunk incident is one example of Harp's devotion that has "unnerved" some White House colleagues, according to The New York Times.
Harp was also among a small group of aides who accompanied Trump on a covert plane switch in Turkey last month, while other officials were left on a decoy Air Force One flight, following an alleged missile threat from Iran.
Brother's Reaction
Harp's estranged brother, Preston Harp, a Trump critic, told CNN he initially laughed upon learning of the trunk incident. "That's really funny, I didn't know about that," he said. But then he added, "No, it's not, I'm sorry, it's actually sad. That's obsession. That's like an unhealthy obsession with someone if you're going to jump into the trunk of their car."
Preston Harp also said his sister's infatuation with presidents dates back to her teenage years, noting she wrote letters to other presidents, including George W. Bush during the Iraq War. He attributed her devotion to their upbringing, saying their mother's belief in American exceptionalism shaped Natalie's views.
Backlash and Defense
The reaction to Ossoff's comment was swift and sharply divided. Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly called it a "despicable attack" that "basically suggests she's a cheating slut." Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna labeled Ossoff a "sexist arrogant jerk." On X, White House communications director Steven Cheung posted that Ossoff was "the biggest cuck loser in politics," while another White House spokesperson, Davis Ingle, said Ossoff is "a cringeworthy, feminine theatre kid cosplaying as Barack Obama."
Scott Jennings, rumored to be a candidate for White House press secretary, branded Ossoff a "garbage human" and accused him of insinuating Harp was "sleeping with her boss" to get her job. Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham called the attack "bizarre" and "choreographed."
Trump himself compared Ossoff to Pee-wee Herman when asked about the comment. The White House also defended Harp, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling The New York Times that Harp is "one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump's team." An unnamed White House advisor told CNN that Trump "likes the attention and the fact that she is 100 percent committed and loyal."
Ossoff's Defense
Ossoff appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to clarify his remarks, saying he was making a broader point about Trump's "bubble of West Wing aides who are his security blanket." However, Kelly accused Ossoff of backing away from the implication when pressed by host Jen Psaki, calling his response a "dodge and a lie." Rolling Stone noted that some Democrats have occasionally resorted to mud-slinging, but few have provoked such a strong reaction.
Perspectives
White House and supporters
The White House and Trump allies argue that Ossoff's comment was a sexist attack on a loyal and hardworking aide, accusing the senator of implying an affair without evidence. They have vigorously defended Harp's character and role.
Ossoff
Senator Ossoff maintains his remark was not about Harp personally but about Trump's reliance on a small circle of aides who shield him from criticism, describing them as a "security blanket."
Natalie Harp's brother
Preston Harp, estranged from his sister, describes her loyalty to Trump as an "unhealthy obsession" rooted in their upbringing, and expressed sadness rather than support for her actions.
How each outlet told it
ABC Australia
Framing: The headline, 'Senator's insult puts Trump's 'human printer' in the headlines', emphasizes the novelty of the nickname and the attention brought to Harp by Ossoff's insult, rather than the controversy or the political implications. — Neutral and explanatory, with a hint of sensationalism in describing the 'unwelcome attention' and the 'firestorm'.
Facts Included:
Natalie Harp has job titles 'executive assistant' and 'special assistant' to the US president.
She is nicknamed 'human printer' for carrying a printer to print flattering social media posts and positive news articles about Trump.
Ossoff's comment: 'He doesn't want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar.'
The comment followed revelations Harp accompanied Trump on a covert plane switch after an alleged missile threat from Iran.
Ossoff's comment went viral and provoked outrage from many on the right, accusing him of suggesting an inappropriate relationship.
Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna called Ossoff a 'sexist arrogant jerk'.
Megyn Kelly called it a 'despicable attack' that 'basically suggests she's a cheating slut'.
Harp's rise: discovered by Trump when she was a guest on Fox News in 2019, crediting Trump with saving her life after he signed the Right to Try law.
Trump said Harp 'lit up the television screen like very few people I've ever seen do it' at a religious Republican convention.
Harp worked for One America News Network before becoming Trump's assistant in 2022.
The New York Times reported on devotional letters Harp wrote to Trump, including 'You are all that matters to me' and 'I want to bring you joy'.
Harp's estranged brother Preston Harp gave an interview to CNN, saying her infatuation comes from their upbringing and that she wrote letters to other presidents, including George W Bush during the Iraq War.
White House communications director Steven Cheung responded on X, saying Ossoff should look into his soul and ask why he's a miserable person who hates his country.
White House defended Harp as 'one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump's team'.
Trump called Ossoff a 'Pee-wee Herman lookalike' and attacked CNN reporter Kristen Holmes as 'loud, boisterous', 'fake news'.
A White House X account insulted Holmes's children, saying they would be 'sickened and embarrassed'.
CNN's interview with Preston Harp generated furore, with Eric Trump calling it 'absolute trash'.
Ossoff appeared on MS NOW and said he was making a broader point about Trump's 'bubble of West Wing aides who are his security blanket'.
MAGA influencer Laura Loomer suggested the nasty stories about Harp are coming from inside the West Wing due to professional jealousy.
Framing: The headline, 'Jon Ossoff Doubles Down On Natalie Harp Dig-Blasts Trump Aides Who Act As His ‘Security Blanket’', emphasizes Ossoff's doubling down and his criticism of Trump aides, framing the story around Ossoff's attack, while the subheadline focuses on the 'fawning letter'. — Factual and analytical, with a neutral tone. The use of 'fawning' and 'unfettered loyalty' leans slightly critical, but overall the tone is measured.
Facts Included:
Trump aide Natalie Harp once wrote a fawning letter to the president signed, 'With all my heart, Natalie,' according to The New York Times.
In the letter, Harp told Trump she was 'sorry' if she was an 'embarrassment walking the course in Scotland' and that she had been 'distracted all week,' forgetting to eat and only sleeping a couple hours at a time.
The letter is the latest detail about Harp's unfettered loyalty, which has reportedly raised concerns within his inner circle that she doesn't properly vet the flow of information to and from Trump.
In Scotland, she sprinted across the golf course to keep up with Trump's cart, according to videos shared with The Times.
CNN reported that in October 2023, Harp jumped into the back of an SUV trunk to accompany Trump to a court appearance in New York, citing two unnamed sources and a photo.
Harp was among a select group of aides who accompanied Trump on a secret flight out of Turkey last month, while other cabinet officials and aides were left on a so-called 'decoy' Air Force One flight.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Times: 'Natalie Harp is one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump's team.'
Ossoff accused Trump of surrounding himself with 'sycophants' and aides who act as his 'security blanket to make him feel good about himself.'
Harp, 35, is a former One America News anchor who drew Trump's attention in 2019 when she credited him with saving her life for signing legislation that allowed her to obtain experimental treatment for bone cancer.
She worked on his 2024 campaign and now works as a special assistant and executive assistant to the president.
During the 2024 campaign, she was nicknamed 'the human printer' because she carried a printer to print off materials that might interest Trump, reportedly alarming others.
The Times reported in 2024 on some of Harp's other letters to Trump, including notes that reportedly said 'you are all that matters to me.'
Harp's estranged brother, Preston Harp, told CNN that his sister is the president's 'biggest fan' and that she has had an 'obsession' with presidents dating back to when she was a teenager, mentioning she wrote letters to other presidents.
The article includes further reading links to Forbes and NYT articles.
Framing: The headline focuses on the brother's 'stunned reaction' and the 'trunk' incident, emphasizing the absurdity and devotion, rather than on the political controversy or Ossoff's comment. — Somewhat sensational and curious, with a mix of amusement and concern. The brother's laugh and 'that's obsession' quote set a tone of bemused criticism.
Facts Included:
Preston Harp, estranged brother of Natalie Harp, laughed when told by CNN's Erin Burnett that his sister reportedly jumped into the trunk of an SUV to accompany Trump to a court hearing in October 2023.
A 'screaming match' took place in the lobby of Trump Tower when there was no room for Natalie Harp in the motorcade.
Natalie Harp reportedly insisted she was asked by Trump to attend the hearing, but with no seat, she climbed into the trunk.
Preston Harp said 'That's really funny, I didn't know about that' and later 'No, it's not, I'm sorry, it's actually sad. That's obsession. That's like an unhealthy obsession with someone if you're going to jump into the trunk of their car.'
Preston Harp is a Trump critic and claimed his mom believed in American exceptionalism, which he said is where Natalie's infatuation comes from.
The trunk incident is an example of Natalie's devotion that has 'unnerved' some White House colleagues, according to The New York Times.
Natalie Harp is an executive assistant who came to Trump's attention in 2019 and joined his staff in 2022, having claimed he 'saved her life' after stage II bone cancer diagnosis.
She was one of a few aides transferred to a military plane in Turkey to avoid a suspected assassination threat by Iran.
An unnamed White House advisor told CNN that Trump 'likes the attention and the fact that she is 100 percent committed and loyal.'
She is nicknamed 'human printer' for handing the president hard copies of social media posts and articles.
Ossoff suggested at a rally Trump would rather fly with 'Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace' than do his job.
The White House defended her, with Rapid Response 47 tearing into a CNN correspondent.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle described her as 'one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump's team'.
Steven Cheung branded Ossoff a 'radical, extremist Dumocrat' in a social media response.
Framing: The headline focuses on Scott Jennings' criticism of Ossoff, linking him to a potential press secretary role, and frames the story around the defense of Harp. — Partisan and defensive, with a clear pro-Trump, anti-Ossoff slant. Words like 'vile', 'garbage human', and 'cringeworthy' set an aggressive tone.
Facts Included:
Scott Jennings, rumored to replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, branded Sen. Jon Ossoff a 'garbage human'.
Jennings condemned Ossoff for joking that Trump would rather 'travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace' than do his job.
Jennings said on his podcast, 'He unleashed a comment, so vile against a young Republican woman working in politics, that every woman in this country, no matter your ideology, ought to listen carefully and never forget it.'
Ossoff made the crack at a rally in Georgia over the weekend.
Harp is nicknamed 'the human printer' for printing flattering social media posts, op-eds, and messages for Trump.
Jennings accused Ossoff of insinuating Harp was 'sleeping with her boss' to get her job, saying she's there because she's a 'pretty blonde who must be sleeping with her boss.'
Trump compared Ossoff to Pee-wee Herman when asked about the comment.
White House 'rapid response' accosted the reporter who asked about Ossoff's comment.
Steven Cheung called Ossoff 'the biggest cuck loser in politics'.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said, 'Jon Ossoff is a cringeworthy, feminine theatre kid cosplaying as Barack Obama. Nobody gives a s*** what this lightweight loser says.'
Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham called Ossoff's attack 'bizarre' and 'choreographed.'
Harp has been a loyal aide for many years, consistently photographed at the president's side, sometimes holding papers.
Harp was among the few aides Trump took on a military jet when he discreetly changed planes in Turkey due to security concerns.
The New York Times reported on Harp's heartfelt letters saying 'you are all that matters to me.'
Harp's brother, Preston Harp, described the relationship as 'very unhealthy' in a Daily Mail interview.
Framing: The headline focuses on Megyn Kelly's condemnation of Ossoff's 'despicable' insinuation, framing the story as an attack on Ossoff rather than on the broader relationship or Harp. It omits the context of the Turkey plane switch and the White House responses. — Adversarial to Ossoff, sympathetic to Harp and Trump. Phrases like 'despicable' and 'dodge and a lie' characterize Ossoff's actions negatively.
Facts Included:
Megyn Kelly blasted Sen. Jon Ossoff on her SiriusXM show for insinuating an affair between Trump and Natalie Harp without evidence.
Ossoff's remarks at a Sunday rally in Georgia: 'He golfs and trades stocks... He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace.'
Natalie Harp is a 35-year-old cancer survivor and Trump's executive assistant.
Harp first gained national attention crediting Trump for the Right to Try law, which he signed in 2018.
Harp spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention and later worked directly for Trump.
Harp plays a hands-on role in Trump's communications, typing social media posts dictated by Trump.
Kelly accused Ossoff of backing away from the implication when pressed by Jen Psaki on MSNBC.
Ossoff responded by describing Trump as retreating into a 'bubble of West Wing aides who are his security blanket.'
Kelly said Ossoff's remarks were a dodge and a lie, and that he was slinging mud and hurting Melania potentially.
Kelly predicted the episode could haunt Ossoff if he runs for president.
The Post has sought comment from Ossoff and the White House.
Kelly also mocked Ossoff's speaking style, comparing it to Obama and Oprah.
Framing: The headline, 'Nothing About Trump and Natalie Harp Is Normal', emphasizes the unusual nature of the relationship and sets a skeptical tone from the start. It omits direct mention of Ossoff's specific comment or the political backlash. — Skeptical and critical of the GOP reaction, with a sense of absurdity. Phrases like 'firestorm', 'reactionary messaging apparatus', and 'moral high ground' carry judgment.
Facts Included:
The article begins with an anecdote from early 2024 about a source claiming a direct line to Trump through Natalie Harp.
Ossoff's comment: 'The president sleeps through his meetings. He golfs and trades stocks... He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar.'
Ossoff's comments set off a firestorm in Democratic circles and the GOP's reactionary messaging apparatus.
Steven Cheung posted 'Jon Jackoff has to be the biggest cuck loser in politics' on Monday morning.
Megyn Kelly wrote on X that Ossoff was clearly implying an affair.
Anna Paulina Luna called him 'sexist arrogant jerk', Robby Starbuck called him 'vile coward'.
Trump responded to CNN's question by calling Ossoff 'Pee-Wee Herman' and his comms team attacked CNN reporter Kristen Holmes with insults, including that her children would be 'sickened and embarrassed'.
Ossoff tried to soften his joke on MS NOW, saying he'd heard the aide referred to as his 'security blanket' and that could apply to any senior aide.
The article mentions that Democrats have occasionally flirted with mud-slinging, but rarely landed a hit provoking this much reaction.
Right-wing commentator Scott Jennings posted 'What a coward. Own your sexist joke, bro.'
Harp began as an anchor for One America News, a right-wing propaganda outlet.
At the 2020 RNC, Harp credited Trump for Right to Try, saying 'You did, and without you, I'd have died waiting for them to be approved.'
The Washington Post notes the drug Harp used was already FDA-approved, so Right to Try wouldn't have applied.
In 2024, The New York Times reported Harp's role as 'the human printer', following Trump with a battery powered printer to give him physical copies of social media posts, etc.
A 2022 Post story detailed Harp's role and quoted an anonymous adviser: 'She is indicative of the people around him who just love him... Love him too much.'
The Times reported Harp wrote 'devotional letters', including 'You are all that matters to me' and one apologizing for being 'an embarrassment' on a golf course, signing 'With all my heart, Natalie.'
Harp's estranged brother Preston Harp told CNN she had an obsession since age 16, writing letters to other presidents, including George Bush during the Iraq War.
On August 10, the Post reported Trump covertly switched planes in Turkey, hiding in a catering truck with a tiny group of aides, including Harp, while others were on a decoy plane.
The article notes that Trump has been found liable for sexual abuse in civil court and makes sexist comments, calling out GOP hypocrisy.
Jesse Watters of Fox News was one of the only right-wing commentators to recognize hypocrisy, saying he wouldn't pretend to be hot and bothered.
The article concludes that Trump will always have protectors, and Harp has been more loyal than anyone.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimNatalie Harp is a 35-year-old cancer survivor and serves as Trump's executive assistant.
ClaimSen. Jon Ossoff, at a Sunday rally in Georgia, said of Trump: 'He golfs and trades stocks... He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace.'
ClaimHarp's estranged brother Preston Harp gave an interview to CNN, saying her infatuation comes from their upbringing and that she wrote letters to other presidents, including George W Bush during the Iraq War.
ClaimWhite House communications director Steven Cheung responded on X, saying Ossoff should look into his soul and ask why he's a miserable person who hates his country.
ClaimWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Times: 'Natalie Harp is one of the most loyal and hardest working aides on President Trump's team.'
ClaimIn October 2023, Harp jumped into the trunk of an SUV to accompany Trump to a court hearing in New York, after a 'screaming match' in the lobby of Trump Tower.
ClaimPreston Harp, in a CNN interview, said of the trunk incident: 'That's obsession. That's like an unhealthy obsession with someone if you're going to jump into the trunk of their car.'
ClaimWhite House spokesman Davis Ingle said, 'Jon Ossoff is a cringeworthy, feminine theatre kid cosplaying as Barack Obama. Nobody gives a s*** what this lightweight loser says.'
ClaimJennings accused Ossoff of insinuating Harp was 'sleeping with her boss' to get her job, saying she's there because she's a 'pretty blonde who must be sleeping with her boss.'
ClaimIn the letter, Harp told Trump she was 'sorry' if she was an 'embarrassment walking the course in Scotland' and that she had been 'distracted all week,' forgetting to eat and only sleeping a couple hours at a time.
ClaimPreston Harp said his sister has had an 'obsession' with presidents dating back to when she was a teenager, mentioning she wrote letters to other presidents.
ClaimHarp was among a select group of aides who accompanied Trump on a secret flight out of Turkey, while other cabinet officials and aides were left on a so-called 'decoy' Air Force One flight.