Former President Donald Trump said Friday that he doesn’t control far-right agitator Laura Loomer, whom he described as a “free spirit” and “supporter.” “Laura’s been a supporter of mine, just like a lot of people are supporters, and she’s been a supporter of mine.
I’m not sure why you asked that question, but Laura is a supporter.
She’s a free spirit,” Trump said at a news conference in Southern California in response to a question from CNN’s Kristen Holmes about his allies expressing concern about their close relationship in recent days.
Pressed by Holmes that it’s his allies who have expressed concern, Trump said, “Look, I can’t tell Laura what to do.
I have a lot of supporters.” Loomer has made a career out of courting controversy.
He entered the political arena as one of the leading purveyors of myths about President Barack Obama’s birthplace.
And after he lost the 2020 election, Trump surrounded himself with people who claimed with questionable or debunked evidence they could prove he won.
She’s a supporter,” Trump said.
Trump said earlier in the press conference that “maybe” he would hold a campaign event in Springfield.
In response to another reporter’s question, Trump downplayed how Loomer traveled with him on his plane to the Philadelphia debate along with close advisers and family members.
Declaring Laura Loomer a “free spirit” and “supporter,” former president Donald Trump stated on Friday that he has no control over the far-right provocateur. “.
“Laura has been a supporter of mine, in the same way that many others are, and she has been my supporter. She has a really positive attitude about the campaign. Laura is a supporter, which may be why you asked that question. Laura is not under my control. Laura needs to express her desires. In response to a question from CNN’s Kristen Holmes regarding his allies’ recent concerns regarding their close relationship, Trump stated, “She’s a free spirit,” during a press conference in Southern California.
“Look, I can’t tell Laura what to do,” Trump said in response to Holmes’s pressure that his allies were the ones expressing concern. Laura is one of her supporters. My supporters are numerous. “.
Embracing controversy has been Loomer’s career. Emerging from the extreme right-wing virtual environment, she has consistently examined internet companies’ readiness to uphold their terms of service. A self-described “proud Islamophobe,” she tweeted in 2018 that “I never want to support another Islamic immigrant driver on Uber or Lyft, so someone needs to create a non-Islamic version of those apps.”. She ultimately lost her ability to use Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. CNN quoted Loomer as saying she is not “anti-Muslim.”. “.
She made the absurd but widely held conspiracy theory—which haunts the families of victims and survivors—that the attack on the World Trade Center towers was a “inside job” in a video that she shared on social media last year. She almost solely ran on her loyalty to the former president when she sought Congress twice in her home state of Florida, once to represent Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. She came in last in both races.
In particular, if they endorse him, the former president has consistently sided with individuals who promote conspiracy theories, which he has long embraced. One of the main propagandists of urban legends regarding President Barack Obama’s birthplace, he entered the political sphere. And after losing the 2020 election, Trump surrounded himself with supporters who said they could prove he had won using dubious or rebutted evidence.
However, a number of individuals close to the former president claim that Loomer has aided in the development of some of the obscene conspiracy theories that Trump has promoted since Harris took Biden’s place on the ticket, a development that has left the GOP nominee feeling more and more uneasy about the political environment he now finds himself in.
Loomer predicted two days prior to Tuesday’s presidential debate that “the White House will smell like curry and White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center” if half-Indian Vice President Kamala Harris wins the 2024 election. “.
Trump claimed that he was unaware of Loomer’s racist and conspiratorial remarks until recently and described Loomer as having “strong opinions” in response to inquiries about them. “.
“She is a resilient individual. She has strong opinions, and although I’m not sure what she said, that’s not my business. She is an ally,” Trump declared.
Based on what you’re telling me, I do know that she might have said something, but I’m not sure what she said. I’ll go check, though, and I’ll release a statement later. “.
Republican congressman and Trump ally Rep. Calling the comment “appalling and extremely racist,” Marjorie Taylor Greene denounced it. “.
Loomer was one of the close allies seen stepping off Trump’s private jet when he landed in Philadelphia on Tuesday ahead of his debate with Harris. Hours later, an increasingly erratic Trump declared from the debate platform that immigrants were “eating the pets” of Ohioans, a reference to a rapidly spreading rumor about Haitian migrants that the online right—including Loomer—had been spreading. Some observers saw this as no coincidence. Trump’s own vice presidential nominee, Sen. Before admitting on Tuesday that it might not be true, JD Vance had disseminated that untrue statement.
When asked about bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, and schools being evacuated as he and his Republican allies spread the debunked conspiracy theory, Trump responded on Friday, saying the “real threat is what’s happening at our border.”. Earlier in the press conference, Trump hinted that he might host a campaign rally in Springfield.
To a question from another reporter, Trump played down the fact that Loomer, along with close advisors and family members, boarded his plane to the Philadelphia debate with him.
“Many people do.”. It’s a massive aircraft, Trump remarked.
Updated with new information, this story has been updated.