Collins Slams Ossoff’s ‘Sexist’ Remark About Cancer Survivor Aide

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins has launched a blistering attack on his Democratic opponent, Senator Jon Ossoff, accusing the Georgia senator of making a “sexist” and “misogynist” comment directed at a female cancer survivor who worked in the Trump White House. The controversy erupted following remarks Ossoff made at a campaign rally in Atlanta on Sunday.

Ossoff’s Comment Sparks Outrage

During the rally, Ossoff, 39, who is seeking re-election, made a remark about White House aide Natalie Harp, 35. He suggested that President Donald Trump was not focused on his presidential duties, stating, “He doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar.” While the comment initially drew applause from the rally attendees, it quickly drew criticism from conservative circles, who defended Harp and labeled Ossoff’s remarks as sexist.

Harp gained public attention in 2019 when she spoke about benefiting from Trump’s Right to Try Act, which allowed her access to experimental treatments for a rare bone cancer. She later joined Trump’s 2020 campaign and subsequently took on a role as a special assistant to the president. Within the Trump administration, Harp became known for providing the president with printed materials, earning the nickname “human printer” among those in his orbit.

Ossoff’s Clarification and Collins’s Response

In an attempt to clarify his remarks on Monday, Ossoff stated, “I’ve heard this particular aide referred to as his security blanket. And I think we could say that about any number of the senior aides in the White House. They’re not telling him what he needs to hear. They’re telling him what he wants to hear.”

However, Collins was not mollified. In an interview, he strongly condemned Ossoff’s comments, asserting, “It’s sexist, misogynist. This guy has a problem, the way he has treated women, and it’s all coming out in the open now.” Collins argued that Ossoff’s remarks about Harp underscored his concerns about the senator’s broader views on women. “With what he said about Natalie is just one more nail in the coffin on how this guy actually feels about women,” Collins stated. “When he will say that about someone who is out there doing a fantastic job and to suggest those types of things. Yeah, he owes not only her an apology, but the American people an apology.”

Collins Questions Ossoff’s Background and Character

Collins further elaborated on his criticisms, questioning Ossoff’s background and suggesting his remarks revealed a pattern of behavior. “There is a clear problem with him and females, and he needs to explain that. He needs to tell us why he is attacking a young lady like Natalie Harp personally like that,” Collins said. He characterized Ossoff as a “trust-fund kid who’s never had a job, who’s out there denigrating women, and the vulgarity that he is insinuating and talking about this young lady, Natalie Harp, who has overcome so many odds. It’s just unbecoming.”

Collins also broadened his attack, linking Ossoff’s alleged behavior to other policy stances. “You can take that further. The fact that he wants to allow men to participate in girls’ sports, the fact that he doesn’t mind if they use women’s restrooms, this guy’s got a problem,” he contended. “He can’t even define a woman.” Collins accused Democrats of hypocrisy on such issues.

Campaign Dynamics and Polls

Despite the controversy, an AARP poll conducted in July indicated that Ossoff held a nine-percentage-point lead in the race. Nevertheless, Collins expressed confidence that the polls are tightening, suggesting that remarks like the one made about Harp are revealing Ossoff’s “true colors” to voters.

Collins suggested that Ossoff’s public statements were a calculated move to boost his profile. “For him to stand up there and denigrate her and to talk about her, this is nothing but him trying to make sure that he gets his social media-based platform raised and make sure he kind of tries to gin up the public out there,” Collins remarked.

Collins defended Harp, characterizing her as someone who has overcome significant challenges and performs her job admirably. He reiterated his belief that there is a consistent pattern of problematic behavior from Ossoff regarding women, describing the situation as “out of control.”