As former President Donald Trump embarks on another bid for the White House, his close association with far-right provocateur Laura Loomer is raising eyebrows and sparking controversy within political circles. Loomer, known for her inflammatory rhetoric and promotion of conspiracy theories, has become a frequent presence alongside Trump on the campaign trail, a move that has not gone unnoticed by both his supporters and critics.
On September 11, a day that holds profound significance for Americans, Trump was seen with Loomer at a commemoration event in New York City. Loomer's presence was particularly controversial given her history of promoting the conspiracy theory that the 9/11 attacks were an "inside job." This baseless claim, which has been widely debunked, continues to cause pain for the families of victims and survivors of the tragic event. Despite this, Loomer was part of Trump's entourage as he paid tribute to first responders and victims of the terrorist attacks.
Loomer, a self-styled investigative journalist and two-time congressional candidate, has long been a polarizing figure. Her rise to prominence in far-right circles has been marked by her unapologetic promotion of anti-Muslim rhetoric and a slew of conspiracy theories, including those about migrants, school shootings, and prominent Democrats. Her controversial statements have led to her being banned from multiple social media platforms, though she was later reinstated on X (formerly Twitter) after Elon Musk's acquisition of the company.
In an interview with CNN, Loomer defended her presence at the 9/11 memorial, dismissing the criticism as unfounded. "I don't understand what the issue is about me going to a 9/11 memorial," she said. "In fact, the people who greeted President Trump at the memorial were very happy to see me, and they said, 'Thank you for coming.'"
Despite Loomer's dismissal of the controversy, her increasing influence within Trump's circle is causing concern among some Republicans. Her proximity to the former president, coupled with her ability to sway his messaging, has led to unease among GOP strategists who fear her antics could harm Trump's chances in the upcoming election. Steve Deace, a conservative podcast host, told CNN that Loomer "offers absolutely nothing to Donald Trump other than a lot of collateral damage on social media that provokes people to not want to vote for him who should be."
The controversy surrounding Loomer came to a head during a recent debate in Philadelphia between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. In a shocking moment, Trump echoed a baseless rumor that Haitian migrants were "eating the pets" of Ohio residents-a claim that had been circulated by Loomer just a day earlier on social media. While Trump's team defended the comments as an attempt to highlight concerns about migrant crime, the debunked claim was met with widespread criticism, even from within his own party.
The backlash against Loomer's rhetoric was not limited to Trump's critics. Notably, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch Trump ally known for her own controversial statements, condemned Loomer's recent post targeting Harris' Indian heritage. Loomer had posted on X that if Harris were to win the presidency, "the White House will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center." Greene responded by calling the post "appalling and extremely racist," adding that it did "not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA."
The controversy has also drawn attention from the White House. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Trump's association with Loomer, stating, "No leader should ever associate with someone who spreads this kind of ugliness, this kind of racist poison." Jean-Pierre went on to call Loomer's comments "repugnant" and "un-American," emphasizing that they represent the kind of divisive rhetoric that should be denounced.
Despite the growing criticism, Trump has shown no signs of distancing himself from Loomer. On the contrary, he has praised her publicly on multiple occasions and even considered hiring her for his campaign last year, though the idea was ultimately rejected by his advisers. Loomer's continued presence alongside Trump reflects her enduring influence within his orbit, even as her involvement raises questions about the direction of his campaign.
