The presidential contender successfully trolling Trump’s White House

Sen.

Jon Ossoff (D-GA) during a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 31, 2026. | Ben Hendren/Bloomberg via Getty Images Until recently, Natalie Harp was an omnipresent but low-profile aide to President Donald Trump: always there, but rarely part of the story herself.

That changed abruptly earlier this month, when Sen.

Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who is currently running for reelection, name-dropped her in a speech.

Trump “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,” Ossoff told supporters at a rally.

The line was a reference to reporting on Trump’s catering-cart maneuver as he was flying back from Turkey in July; Harp and other Trump aides joined the president on an alternate plane by way of a catering cart, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was left behind on Air Force One.

The “Natalie” jab from Ossoff quickly took on a life of its own, spurred by a furious response from the Trump White House and right-wing media.

Somewhat lost in the flurry of attention on Harp was Ossoff himself — but Greg Bluestein, chief political reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast, told Today, Explained that the remark was “by design.” Bluestein spoke with Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram about Ossoff’s disciplined, savvy messaging strategy, his political rise, and why his rhetorical jabs at Trump are fueling speculation about an Ossoff 2028 presidential run.

Below is an excerpt of their conversation, edited for length and clarity.

There’s much more in the full podcast, so listen to Today, Explained wherever you get podcasts, including Apple Podcasts , Pandora , and Spotify .

It’s time on this show, Greg, that we remind people who Jon Ossoff is.

I’m told that is a job with which you can help.

I go way back with Sen.