When conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer was spotted getting off Donald Trump’s plane in Philadelphia before Tuesday’s debate, it may have been an indication that Trump’s appearance would be as fact-free and fascist-friendly as Loomer’s disgusting podcast.

I actually wondered if Trump brought her along for inspiration. Loomer, who has described herself as “pro-white nationalism” and a “proud Islamophobe,” has received public praise from Trump on several occasions over the past year, even as some conservatives feared she would become a liability to his campaign.

Lately, she has used her platform to openly hurl racist and sexist attacks at Kamala Harris, the same kind of trash that Trump spews on social media. In one such example from last week, Loomer referred to Harris, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as “baseless DEI Shaniquas.”

It’s also notable that she has publicly criticized Trump’s campaign despite losing the only election she ever voted in. So Team Trump could appease her — or simply tone down her online whining — by keeping her in the fold. In fact, Loomer traveled with Trump’s entourage to a 9/11 commemoration ceremony on Wednesday, which is particularly awkward since Loomer has claimed the 2001 terrorist attacks were an inside job.

I find it remarkable so far that Loomer has not become the liability that some of Trump’s own supporters predicted. After all, the former president hosted a dinner with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and rapper Ye, and his campaign still had to answer for it this year – and rightly so.

But Trump has been spared similar criticism because of his association with Loomer, who is just as toxic as Fuentes or Ye but seems more deeply embedded in the Trump campaign than either of them.