There's a point to all this, and I'll get to it in a moment, but it requires a bit of background, because putting everything in perspective is what makes the whole story.
The other day, Sen. Jon Ossoff gave a powerful indicting speech about Trump's abrogation of responsibility in his duties, spending his time on golf, trying to build monuments to himself and living in a protective bubble, while the economy struggles and his war of choice he started unnecessarily against Iran has no way out in site. But one passage stood out and got the most news attention.
The passage was when Ossoff said that rather than act as president, Trump wants to build a ballroom and “travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace,” a reference $400 million grift from Qatar that is so problematically equipped it needs another $600 million in taxpayer repairs.
"Natalie" is Natalie Harp, Trump's 35-year-old aide who is know in press circles as "Trump's printer," because she's obsessively protective of Trump, prints out positive stories for Trump (she's actually been seen carrying around a portable printer when with him) and is believed to type many of Trump's social media tweets. Several of her emails to Trump were printed in the recent bestseller, Regime Change, by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan were so deeply cultish with "absolute devotion," as Swan has described them ("You are all that matters to me," "I don't ever want to let you down," and "I want to bring you joy."), that the Secret Secret actually got "alarmed," though Trump shut them down from investigating.
When asked by Jen Psaki on MS NOW why he included mention of Ms. Harp in his speech in reference to Trump, Sen. Ossoff said that he has “heard this particular aide referred to as his security blanket.” And added, "We're in wartime. The commander in chief has mired us in this geopolitical disaster. People have lost their lives. Our naval logistics are frayed. The global energy system is in crisis," Ossoff explained. "And he retreats into this bubble of West Wing aides who are his security blanket to make him feel good about himself, to reassure him that he's doing a great job, to help him while he designs his new ballroom."
Which brings us to the point here.
That one mention of Natalie Harp -- indeed, just "Natalie -- set off a furious Trump (who blistered a female reporter -- of course -- for asking him if he had a comment), his support staff and members of his circle who have been doing their best to shred Jon Ossoff (among other things, questioning his manhood) for being so repugnant and lascivious and cross, and CNN reporter Kristen Holmes (among other things, actually bringing her children into it, saying they'll grow up to be "sickened and embarrassed" by a parent so "callous and vindictive" from her "disgusting and inhumane" question) for asking Trump if he had a comment. The Trump circle reaction was and remains relentless and crude and furious.
A reminder that what Sen. Ossoff said was -- that all Trump wants to do is build a ballroom "and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace." That's it. Quote, end-quote.
Putting aside that compared to the thousands of Trump's crude, sleazy, foul language, deeply personal attacks for the past decade against people he hates, the MAGOP reaction has been intense, slamming Sen. Ossoff for his supposedly dirty, disgusting, reprehensible insinuations against Natalie Harp.
Again, your reminder that, word for word, he said, "and travel with Natalie."
And the hilarious thing about all of this -- which is the core point -- is that any insinuations made about Natalie Harp have only been made by those by Trump and those in his circle bringing them up. Because all Jon Ossoff said -- and you can't repeat this too often -- is "and travel with Natalie."
And worse (or funnier) is that if Trump and MAGOPs let this alone, it would have been been just four bland words in a speech that would have gotten briefly reported, explained as Ossoff did, and the world would have moved on. But Trump and MAGOPs have not only made this a big story, but have kept it active and guaranteed that Sen. Ossoff and other Democrats will be sure to keep bringing it up -- for the reasons Ossoff said he did.
By the way, whether one believes Jon Ossof's full explanation of why he referenced "Natalie," it is an explanation that -- unfortunately for Trump -- is an absolutely impactful one about Trump being focused on building ballrooms, ignoring his duties, excessively playing golf, ignoring his war in Iran and traveling in a bubble of protective aides who just tell him what he wants to hear, all the more especially since Natalie Harp is well-known among the press for sticking close by Trump's side; for providing his total personal good-news support, even carrying a printer to give Trump positive articles; for being part of Trump's security blanket bubble; for being included on Trump's "evasion" airplane switch while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was left on the "Iran target" plane (!!), and for her uber-loyal emails that have been published publicly.
Most of the public had next to no idea who Natalie Harp was. Trump and the White House made sure that people do now. They made her and Trump and issue. They made the insinuations about her and Trump. They ensure that the story will continue.
Because the point Sen. Ossoff says he was making about Trump was not only completely valid, but part of the reason why Trump's approval is plummeting, now down to 32%.
By enabling Trump, by currying his favor by doubling down on his revenge obsessions, by accepting his dementia as normal, they have no one to blame but themselves.
