Gossip roundup: Trump’s aide, navy redesign fears, fake poll and a fringe Florida candidate
A satirical column mixes rumors about Donald Trump’s staff, alleged navy redesign plans, a fabricated Los Angeles mayoral poll and a fringe congressional run in Florida.
The author alleges that Natalie Harp, the president’s executive assistant, receives preferential treatment, citing anecdotes of her accompanying Trump on a catering truck and rumors of her eclipsing the first lady. He urges Pete Hegseth to block any Trump-initiated redesign of navy vessels, mocking the idea of a “bedazzled” fleet. A fabricated poll that purportedly gave Karen Bass a double-digit lead over Nithya Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral contest is revealed as a short-term social experiment meant to spread misinformation.
In Florida, Dan Bilzerian, characterized as a Nazi, ran a campaign centered on antisemitic rhetoric and captured 18.7% of the vote, surpassing James Fishback’s 10.5% share. The column blends political gossip, criticism of naval policy, and commentary on extremist candidacies.
Why it matters
It highlights how misinformation and sensational rumors can distort public perception of politics and the military.
How this story developed
- Aug 12 Scott Jennings Emerges as Leading Candidate to Succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary
- Aug 14 Katie Miller was taken off the list of candidates for press secretary.
- Aug 14 Jen Psaki publicly criticized Leavitt, calling her a liar and alleging she avoided tough questions.
- Aug 16 Multiple senior officials, including White House counsel and a deputy national security adviser, have resigned as Leavitt prepares to leave.
- Aug 16 Biographer Maggie Haberman said President Donald Trump kept aide Natalie Harp close as his “human binkie” while slipping out of Turkey in July.
- Aug 18 White House officials issued a rebuke following Ossoff’s rally comments about Natalie Harp.
- Aug 18 White House officials used profanity‑laden insults toward Ossoff in their rebuttal.
- Aug 18 Leavitt announced her resignation effective at month’s end.
- Aug 18 It was disclosed that Harp is a bone‑cancer survivor who attributes her recovery to the 2018 Right‑to‑Try Act.
- Aug 18 Megyn Kelly condemned Senator Jon Ossoff’s remarks about President Trump’s close aide Natalie Harp, calling the attack on the 35-year-old cancer survivor despicable.
- Aug 19 Scott Jennings reacted angrily on his broadcast after Ossoff mentioned Harp.
- Aug 20 Trump ordered an internal inquiry after private letters with Harp were leaked.
- Aug 20 Ossoff’s Atlanta rally comment about Harp provoked a profane tweet from White House communications director Steven Cheung and condemnations from several conservative figures.
- Aug 20 Ossoff doubled down on his remarks at the rally, further emphasizing the innuendo about Harp.
In this story
Related stories
15 in this thread