Trump backs away from far-right activist Loomer’s comments but welcomes her support
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Laura Loomer's presence on the campaign trail with Donald Trump has drawn criticism, from fervent Trump supporters as well as the White House.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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RANCHO PALOS VERDES, California - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sept 13 sought to distance himself from far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, whose presence on the campaign trail drew rebukes from both Trump’s allies and the White House, but he did not disavow her.
In a statement released on Sept 13, Trump said he did not agree with Ms Loomer’s past statements, but he still welcomed her support. Trump made clear that she does not work for his campaign, even though Ms Loomer travelled on his plane for much of the week.
Ms Loomer, who commands a following on X of 1.2 million people, previously suggested the Sept 11, 2001, attacks were an inside job by sharing a video last year on X that promoted that conspiracy theory. She has since changed her position and told CNN in an interview published on Sept 12 that the attacks were carried out by “Islamic terrorists”.
Earlier in the day, Trump was asked about Ms Loomer during a press conference at his Southern California golf club.
“She is a strong person, she’s got strong opinions,” Trump said, calling her a ”free spirit.”
Later on Sept 13, at a rally in Las Vegas, Trump said he had heard that Democratic rival Kamala Harris had used a secret earpiece during their Sept 10 debate in Philadelphia, a baseless conspiracy theory that Ms Loomer has promoted on X.
Ms Loomer showed up at Trump’s debate and then in New York on the following day, to commemorate the Sept 11 attacks.
She sparked fierce blowback when she posted on X earlier this week that if Ms Harris, who is of Indian descent, won the Nov 5 election, “the White House will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center”.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre denounced Ms Loomer’s remarks as “racist poison” and criticised Trump for associating with her.
Several prominent Trump-supporting Republicans, including US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and US Senators Lindsey Graham and Thom Tillis, also denounced Ms Loomer after her comment about Ms Harris.
Mr Tillis wrote on X on Sept 13 that Ms Loomer "is a crazy conspiracy theorist who regularly utters disgusting garbage intended to divide Republicans.”
During Trump's press conference in California, Ms Loomer was busily promoting his remarks on X and making incendiary comments about immigrants who enter the US illegally.
Afterwards, she posted: "I'm simply a ride or die supporter of President Trump."
In a separate post on Sept 13, she said the Republicans attacking her were jealous that they were not with Trump on his plane.
Ms Loomer, a Floridian who has twice unsuccessfully run for Congress, has a long history of expressing anti-Muslim sentiment.
Her views caused her then-Twitter account to be banned, a decision that was reversed after Elon Musk bought the company. REUTERS
