Second lady Usha Vance addressed recent comments from Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Michigan Senate nominee, during a preview of her interview on ‘Fox & Friends.’ This interaction follows a recent critique from the El-Sayed campaign targeting Natalie Harp, a White House aide.
The campaign shared a satirical post on X referencing President Donald Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid trade tensions with Canada. The post edited the White House webpage for first lady Melania Trump, substituting her name with that of Natalie Harp. This prompted backlash from conservatives online.
Social Media Reactions
“This is just such a weak, phoned-in effort,” GOP communicator Matt Whitlock commented on X. James David Dickson, a journalist, remarked on X, “That boy Abdul is drowning, and his team keeps throwing him bricks.”
Conservative group Michigan Forward criticized the campaign’s approach, labeling it as inappropriate. Melik Abdul, a political commentator, noted the perceived sexism and misogyny in the comments aimed at Harp.
Natalie Harp’s Role
Natalie Harp, a committed Trump supporter, attributes the first-term “right to try” order with aiding her recovery from a severe bone cancer battle. She currently serves as an aide in the Trump administration, facing increased media and public attention regarding her role and her relationship with Trump.
El-Sayed’s Follow-Up Comments
In another online post, El-Sayed questioned whether Vice President JD Vance would take Usha Vance back in time to meet his grandfather, known as Pawpaw. JD Vance had earlier remarked that Pawpaw would be surprised by El-Sayed’s candidacy for U.S. Senate.
Fox News Digital sought comments from El-Sayed’s campaign. A White House spokesperson mentioned that El-Sayed’s proposals, including raising taxes and defunding the police, have been controversial. The spokesperson also noted El-Sayed’s past comments on American football and Thanksgiving.
Peter D’Abrosca covers politics for Fox News Digital.
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