Key facts
- Senator Jon Ossoff is using media strategies similar to those of Barack Obama.
- Ossoff's "Ossoff angle" photographic technique and plain language are effective on social media.
- Ossoff is seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028.
- A viral clip of Ossoff mentioning Natalie Harp, an aide to Donald Trump, gained significant attention.
- Ossoff was elected in January 2021, helping Democrats secure a Senate majority.
- Ossoff has focused on issues of corruption and maladministration during his term.
Senator Jon Ossoff is employing media strategies reminiscent of Barack Obama, utilizing "the Ossoff angle" photographic technique and plain language to connect with voters. The Georgia Democrat, running for re-election, is increasingly viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
Delivering a speech in Atlanta last month, Ossoff accused Donald Trump of corruption, incompetence, and fecklessness. A brief remark about Trump wanting to "travel with Natalie" onboard Air Force One, referencing Trump's aide Natalie Harp, quickly went viral and generated significant media attention.
The photographic framing known as the "Ossoff angle," which captures subjects from a low angle, has been used by politicians for decades, including John F Kennedy. Experts suggest Ossoff, as the youngest senator, has mastered the media of the moment to convey a new generation of leadership.
Ossoff, a former documentarian, has a talent for engaging social media audiences. While Trump is also a social media adept, his audience is generationally different. Trump has given Ossoff the nickname "Pee-wee Herman."
A Republican-aligned Super PAC has begun running ads featuring AI-generated videos of Ossoff. Ossoff was elected in January 2021 in a runoff that secured the Senate majority for Democrats.
Since taking office, Ossoff has focused on opposing Washington corruption and maladministration. He has notably questioned Trump administration officials, including former intelligence director nominee Jay Clayton, regarding the 2020 election. Ossoff has also held hearings on child welfare and federal prison abuses.