Scott Jennings Responds To Attack On White House Aide
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings sharply criticized Sen. Jon Ossoff this week after the Georgia Democrat made remarks about White House aide Natalie Harp that Jennings said crossed a line from attacking President Donald Trump into targeting a woman who is largely unknown outside political circles. The controversy began after Ossoff spoke at a rally […]
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings sharply criticized Sen. Jon Ossoff this week after the Georgia Democrat made remarks about White House aide Natalie Harp that Jennings said crossed a line from attacking President Donald Trump into targeting a woman who is largely unknown outside political circles.
The controversy began after Ossoff spoke at a rally over the weekend and criticized Trump’s priorities while the war with Iran continues to weigh on Americans financially. During his remarks, Ossoff said Trump appeared more interested in golfing, building a White House ballroom and traveling with Harp.
The reference to Harp drew laughter and applause from the crowd, but Jennings argued that the remark carried an obvious insinuation about her relationship with the president.
Harp, 34, serves as Trump’s executive assistant and has worked closely with him for several years. Her responsibilities reportedly include helping manage Trump’s Truth Social account and other social media activity. She also worked on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and previously appeared on One America News Network.
During a CNN discussion Tuesday night, Jennings accused Ossoff of “punching down” by making Harp the target of a political joke.
Jennings argued that Harp is neither an elected official nor a household name and said Ossoff appeared to be suggesting that her position at the White House was tied to something other than her professional qualifications.
He called the attack unfair and said it was especially striking coming from Democrats who frequently present themselves as defenders of women in public life and the workplace.
CNN host Laura Coates pushed back on Jennings’ interpretation, noting that Ossoff had not directly said Harp was romantically involved with Trump.
Jennings responded that the reaction from Ossoff’s audience made the meaning of the remark difficult to miss. In his view, the joke was clearly understood by the crowd as an insinuation about Harp and Trump.
Ossoff later addressed the criticism during an appearance on MS Now. Rather than backing away from his comments, he argued that Harp holds significant influence inside the administration.
He compared her position to other senior administration officials, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and trade adviser Peter Navarro, saying Harp occupies a position of public trust and should therefore be open to political criticism.
Ossoff also criticized Harp’s role in Trump’s social media operation, accusing her of helping distribute what he described as the president’s “daily dose of delusion and flattery.”
Jennings was not persuaded by that explanation.
In a social media post Wednesday, he accused Democrats of attacking what he described as a working woman who had little ability to defend herself publicly. He said Harp’s reputation was being damaged simply because attacking her could generate political attention and hurt Trump.
Jennings expanded on that argument in a podcast clip, saying Ossoff had chosen to target someone who goes to work each day rather than keeping his criticism focused on Trump himself.
The episode comes at a politically sensitive time for Ossoff, who is seeking re-election in Georgia this November. Recent polling has shown him with an advantage, although the race remains competitive enough to draw national attention.
Jennings, meanwhile, has increasingly become one of the most recognizable conservative voices on CNN. He has also reportedly been discussed as a possible replacement for outgoing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Whether that happens remains to be seen, but his defense of Harp this week was consistent with the combative role he has carved out on television: challenging Democratic arguments while defending Trump and members of his administration from criticism he considers unfair.