Summer is here, and things feel tense, especially in Washington newsrooms and offices. During this season, finding serious news can be tougher than locating reporters to cover it.
The outcome is what journalists refer to as “the silly season,” where you can’t predict which trivial story will rise to the top.
Looking for silly news in a serious Washington might be easier than you’d expect, and recently it’s getting tough to distinguish between what’s important and what’s ridiculous.
Take for instance the stir caused by U. S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, who made a comment about President Donald Trump and his young female aide.
Ossoff upset Team Trump – including Trump himself – by suggesting there’s an unusually close relationship between the president and Natalie Harp, his 35-year-old executive assistant.
“He doesn’t want to do the job,” Ossoff said to an excited crowd, referring to Trump’s confusion during multiple crises facing his administration. “He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar.”
“With Natalie.” Those two words fired up the audience and brought joy to downbeat Democrats elsewhere who are desperately searching for candidates willing to stand firm during this polarized election season.
And they weren’t alone. A short clip from Ossoff’s 30-minute speech garnered over 5 million views on X along with a massive backlash from Republicans, including Harp’s boss, who shot back Monday calling Ossoff a “Pee Wee Herman lookalike” – mistakenly referring to him as “Pinky Herman.”
A wave of MAGA influencers took to social media expressing their outrage that this newcomer from Georgia had insulted a professional woman without cause. Even former House Speaker Newt Gingrich got involved, criticizing Ossoff on X for using “misogynistic language diminishing and smearing someone who is simply doing their job.”
For reporters and commentators with not much else happening, it was fascinating to watch a familiar strategy play out on the political stage, with Trump’s team gearing up to isolate and overwhelm Ossoff with social media criticism while attacking Democrats over an issue they supposedly control.
However, I would advise caution for those eager-whatever their reasons-to join in viewing Ossoff’s jab as sexual innuendo.
It would concern me if all the talk about Harp revolved around spreading gossip about an attractive young woman working closely with an older boss.
We’ve seen such scenarios play out too many times before. You could say it’s just how things go nowadays; however, without real proof behind it all, I don’t want any part in fueling rumors.
But I also think that Ossoff’s comment wasn’t meant to imply any kind of romantic relationship. Although I understand that such a misinterpretation might be exactly what GOP strategists aim for.
In reality, this situation highlights Trump’s intense need for flattery. Throughout his time in business and politics, he has always sought ways to assert his dominance. It’s no shock then that during televised cabinet meetings his closest advisors compete in showering him with praise.
What matters regarding Harp’s connection with Trump isn’t salacious curiosity but rather that she seems like what New York Times White House reporter Maggie Haberman described as “sort of his binky, for lack of a better word, his comfort blanket.” As such, she appears to be his main link back into reality.
We really don’t know much about Harp. And the more we discover about her role, the more concerned we should become.
Harp is nicknamed by many within Trumpworld as “the human printer” due to her responsibility of providing him printed copies of everything from news articles to social media discussions. In fact, according to a report two years ago by The Bulwark’s well-informed reporter Marc Caputo, she actually follows Trump everywhere carrying around a portable printer.
She reportedly works seven days per week while texting world leaders on his behalf and staying up late helping draft social media posts alongside him.
This has given her considerable influence; one source told Caputo that “If you want the president to see something, the best route is Natalie.”
She also doesn’t seem accountable anyone other than Trump himself. It looks like she may have spent over a year in her sensitive position without holding any security clearance.
Over time there have been questions regarding who manages Trump’s social media accounts and filters through often toxic messages coming from them. Some analysts suggest that Harp plays an essential role in this process.
I was truly outraged upon learning that Harp shared out racist content on Trump’s Truth Social account portraying former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. Some people take such matters personally; it’s clear Trump does not care either way.
The post was produced under Trump’s direction appeared in February at the end of a minute-long video pushing false claims regarding the 2020 election before being deleted roughly twelve hours later following intense bipartisan backlash.
Nonetheless-as someone who values free speech along with our democratic process-I firmly believe these cheap shots will eventually face consequences from voters down the line.
This is how democracies deliver political justice; it isn’t perfect but offers us voters an invaluable opportunity for our voices being heard when needed most.
And we require every chance available.
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And we require every chance available.
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