A Fox News panel erupted into a heated exchange over Sen. Jon Ossoff’s controversial remarks about President Donald Trump aide Natalie Harp, with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt calling the Georgia Democrat’s comments “repulsive” and demanding an apology.
The clash unfolded on “Special Report with Bret Baier” after guest host Trace Gallagher raised Ossoff’s viral comment about Trump traveling “with Natalie.”
Former Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Murphy defended Ossoff, describing the senator as “his own man” and suggesting the White House reaction showed the remark had struck a nerve.
“I think that there is a lot of folks in the White House have their panties in a bunch because the truth hurts,” Murphy said. “And that’s what Jon Ossoff said. The truth hurts.”
Hewitt immediately pushed back.
“What Patrick just said … I have to correct him,” Hewitt responded, defending Harp as “absolutely above board” and blasting Ossoff’s remark as “repulsive.”
Hewitt noted that former Obama adviser David Axelrod and other Democrats had repudiated the remark and argued that Ossoff should apologize.
Murphy then pointed to Trump’s decision last month to take Harp, a 35-year-old former cable news anchor, with him when the Secret Service moved the president off Air Force One and onto another aircraft. Cabinet officials, including the secretary of state and secretary of the treasury, were left behind in Turkey.
Hewitt objected to what he believed Murphy and Ossoff were insinuating about Harp and Trump.
“Natalie Harp has not had any relationship with the president. It’s disgusting,” Hewitt said.
Murphy fired back that Ossoff had only said Trump traveled on the plane with Harp.
“To insinuate that is disgusting,” Hewitt responded.
Murphy accused Hewitt of “clutching your pearls,” while Hewitt maintained that Ossoff’s comment was a lie and again cited Axelrod’s criticism.
The exchange grew increasingly contentious as Murphy returned to the fact that Trump had traveled with Harp while leaving Cabinet officials behind.
“She’s a close aide, and if you are going to deal misogynistic lies, shame on you and the Democratic Party,” Hewitt said.
“God bless you, buddy,” Murphy replied.
The controversy began after Ossoff invoked Harp during a campaign rally Sunday. Ossoff told the crowd that Trump, 80, did not want to do his job and instead “wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie” aboard the aircraft gifted by the Emir of Qatar.
Harp has attracted additional attention following the publication of letters she wrote to Trump.
The aide, who has been dubbed the “human printer” because she carries a portable printer to provide Trump with hard copies of articles and other materials, called herself “unworthy” in one letter.
In another, according to the report, Harp told Trump she never wanted to bring him “anything but joy,” apologized for losing her focus and described him as her “Guardian and Protector in this Life.”
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