Fox News host Jesse Watters declined to pile on Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff over the senator’s pointed remarks made at a Sunday rally about President Donald Trump and White House aide Natalie Harp — and his reason for staying unbothered caught even his own colleagues off guard. Speaking Tuesday during an episode of “The Five,” Watters said Trump’s own history of inflammatory comments made it hard to justify outrage over what Ossoff had said.
Ossoff’s Rally Remarks Ignite a Firestorm
The controversy began at a Sunday rally in Atlanta, where Ossoff, 39, went after Trump with a string of sharp criticisms. The Democratic senator accused Trump of sleeping through meetings, golfing, trading stocks, and neglecting his presidential duties. But it was one specific line that set off a wave of conservative condemnation: Ossoff said Trump would rather “build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar” than actually govern. The “Natalie” in question is Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old aide who has become one of the most recognizable figures in Trump’s inner circle.
Harp has drawn widespread attention for her unusually close working relationship with the president. Often referred to as the “human printer,” she uses a portable device to print news items and social media drafts for the president’s review on paper. She follows him through his daily activities, helps manage his online presence, and provides him with favorable press coverage in hard copy. She has also reportedly sent Trump messages described as “cringe-adjacent,” including declarations like “You are all that matters to me,” “I don’t ever want to let you down,” and “I want to bring you joy.” Her own estranged brother has publicly called her fixation on the president “unhealthy.”
Watters Breaks From Conservative Outrage
While fellow conservatives rushed to condemn Ossoff, Watters took a notably different approach on “The Five.” Perino observed that Ossoff’s comment about Harp had been prepared in advance, not improvised. Watters agreed but remained unbothered.
“To suggest that Trump surrounds himself with attractive women, yeah, I think he’s done that his whole life,” Watters said. “I don’t think he’s very upset about the comment.” He went on to explain why he refused to feign offense: Watters said he wasn’t troubled by Ossoff’s remark, noting that Trump himself has made far worse and more inappropriate statements about others, and that he had defended those past comments without hesitation, so he wasn’t going to act outraged now when the president clearly didn’t care.
Watters also defended Harp’s personal backstory while refusing to condemn the senator. He noted that Trump signed the Right to Try Act in 2018, which allowed Harp to access experimental treatments for bone cancer — treatments she credits with saving her life. Her estranged brother, however, disputed that account, suggesting her insurance coverage deserved more credit than her association with Trump.
Other Conservatives Take a Harder Line
Not everyone on the right shared Watters’ measured tone. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung unleashed a harsh response on X, calling Ossoff a “cuck loser” and a “miserable person who hates this country,” among other insults. CNN conservative political commentator Scott Jennings, who has been mentioned as a frontrunner for the White House press secretary role, defended Harp directly, writing that Trump had done more to elevate women in politics than any other president and calling Ossoff a “despicable coward” for targeting a cancer survivor and public servant.
When Ossoff addressed the controversy Monday on MS Now, he declined to mention Harp by name. Instead, Ossoff said Trump withdraws to a circle of West Wing staffers who serve as emotional support, validating him and boosting his confidence while he focuses on projects like his new ballroom and decorating the Oval Office with gold accents.
Tarlov’s Response Steals the Moment
Perhaps the most striking reaction to Watters’ remarks came from his own “The Five” co-panelist, liberal commentator Jessica Tarlov, who was not on the show when Watters spoke. After clips circulated on social media, Tarlov posted on X with a dry one-liner that quickly went viral: “Hate when I’m out for these moments of clarity.” Her response captured the sentiment of many viewers who found Watters’ candid admission about Trump’s own rhetorical record to be a rare and unexpected moment of self-awareness from one of the network’s most prominent voices.