Republicans are concerned that Laura Loomer had “something to do with” Trump’s weak debate performance
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Some Republicans are concerned that far-right activist Laura Loomer is influencing former President Donald Trump and fear she may have something to do with his poor debate performance against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Loomer traveled on Trump’s plane the day of the debate and the next morning, and a person close to the president said she now fears she could exacerbate Trump’s “weaknesses.” Semafor reports.
The right-wing extremist activist’s possible influence on the former president has increasingly come under criticism after Trump repeatedly lost concentration in the face of Harris’ provocations and, for example, loudly expressed rumors that Haitian migrants in Ohio were stealing and eating pets without any evidence to support this.
“Despite all the guardrails the Trump campaign has put in place, I don’t think it’s working,” the Trump insider told the outlet.
The New York Times reported last year that Trump ordered his staff to give Loomer a campaign statement, but backed out when Republicans raised concerns.
Loomer has become known for her inflammatory behavior, once protesting her Twitter suspension by handcuffing herself to the social media company’s New York office while wearing a yellow Star of David and comparing her treatment to the Holocaust. The divisive far-right activist has also said she supports white nationalism, insisting the U.S. is a “white Judeo-Christian ethnostate” that will be ruined by diversity.
Republican consultant Dennis Lennox said Semafor, “Trump lost the debate based on his performance or lack thereof.”
“This is what happens when you take a chance, live in the Fox News and X bubble, and rely on Matt Gaetz, not to mention Laura Loomer,” he added.
However, a person close to Trump’s campaign team told the news agency that Loomer did not attend the preparatory meetings for the debates.
“She doesn’t interfere or whatever other people call it,” the person said. “She’s actually very encouraging and a positive person to be around.”
On Wednesday, the Harris campaign released a CNN post that sharply criticized Loomer and denounced her racist post on X about Harris’s Native American heritage. Loomer claimed Harris was “angry” about her reporting.
“I don’t care if the media finds my factual posts offensive,” she added. “I find their exploitation of the government and their policies that have destroyed our country OFFENSIVE! Stay angry!”
Right-wing Georgia House Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called Loomer’s post denigrating Harris’s background “appalling and extremely racist.”
She added: “This does not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA. This does not represent President Trump. This behavior should never be tolerated. @LauraLoomer should remove this.”
Greene has warned Trump against allying herself with Loomer, with whom she was previously allied. Loomer has called Greene a “traitor.” Last year, Greene said Loomer was “mentally unstable” and a “proven liar.”
