Trump ally Laura Loomer’s racist comments draw rebuke from Marjorie Taylor Green
The conservative activist’s presence by Donald Trump’s side on the campaign trail is prompting concern from some of the presidential candidate’s colleagues.
Conservative activist Laura Loomer’s presence by Donald Trump’s side is prompting concern from some of the presidential candidate’s allies, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
Loomer, who has appeared at Trump’s rallies and travelled with him this week to the presidential debate and 9/11 ceremonies, tweeted this weekend that the White House would smell like curry if Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, wins the election.
If @KamalaHarris wins, the White House will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center and the American people will only be able to convey their feedback through a customer satisfaction survey at the end of the call that nobody will understand. https://t.co/EebUiKKxVw
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) September 8, 2024
Loomer made the comment in response to a photo posted on X by the vice president, showing her as a child visiting her grandparents in India.
“This is appalling and extremely racist,” Greene posted on X late Wednesday, referring to Loomer’s comment. “It does not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA. This does not represent President Trump. This type of behaviour should not be tolerated ever. @LauraLoomer should take this down.” Greene said Thursday that Loomer could be a distraction during a critical time in the election — concern other Republicans close to Trump privately echoed. “This is such an important election. I don’t think that she has the experience or the right mentality to advise,” Greene told reporters.
This is appalling and extremely racist. It does not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) September 11, 2024
This does not represent President Trump.
This type of behavior should not be tolerated ever. @LauraLoomer should take this down. https://t.co/z9s5fZlgQi
Loomer said on X that her comment about Harris was a joke. She said she stands by everything she says and wouldn’t take down any tweets. She also called Greene antisemitic for posting a conspiracy theory years ago that space lasers funded by a Jewish family were the cause of wildfires in California.
Loomer didn’t respond to a request for comment Thursday.
She joined Trump on Wednesday at the 9/11 anniversary ceremony in New York and then travelled with him to Shanksville, Pa., where one of the hijacked planes crashed.
Last year, Loomer shared on social media a video claiming 9/11 was an “inside job,” referring to a long-running conspiracy theory. She told CNN she didn’t understand the issue with her attending the memorial.
NEW: Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) says she is “completely denouncing†Laura Loomer. And says Loomer doesn’t represent “MAGAâ€
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) September 12, 2024
(low audio) pic.twitter.com/gXyF9GtMMc
“I’ve never denied the fact that Islamic terrorists carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks,” Loomer told CNN. “In fact, the media calls me anti Muslim precisely for the reason that I spend so much time focusing on talking about the threats of Islamic terrorism in America.”
When asked for comment, a spokesman for Greene pointed to another X post Greene made Thursday that said the Make America Great Again movement should focus on inflation, the economy and illegal immigration at the border. “Laura Loomer’s outright lies, instability, and manic toxicity have no place in MAGA,” Greene said in the post.
A spokesman for the Trump campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment. The Harris campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Greene has clashed with other members of Congress, including from her own party, for past remarks embracing conspiracy theories. She has said that she regretted those statements and that she had been receiving misinformation.
Loomer has also helped promote the false idea that Haitian migrants who have settled in Springfield, Ohio, have abducted pets and eaten them — something Trump raised at Tuesday’s debate with Harris. Local officials say they have no evidence supporting that. Loomer in a Sept. 9 post on X cited “disturbing reports” coming out of Springfield.
I’m always so proud of the kind, loving, and welcoming spirit of MAGA and the Republican Party.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) September 12, 2024
We have the winning policies that represent every American and put our country first.
This is why Laura Loomer’s nasty, racist, and divisive rhetoric should not be tolerated.
We…
Loomer has long made some aides around Trump uncomfortable. Last year, Trump talked about bringing her onto the campaign. Around that time Loomer was attacking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who was eyeing a run for president against Trump, and his wife, Casey. One attack accused Casey DeSantis of playing up her breast cancer diagnosis for sympathy.
The idea of hiring Loomer was put off following a report in the New York Times, which triggered backlash among top Trump supporters. But Trump continued to pay attention to Loomer and appreciate her support, according to several people close to him.
In January, Loomer travelled with Trump to campaign in Iowa, the first GOP nominating state. Days later Trump praised Loomer during an event, calling her “really talented” and “amazing” and asking her to stand for applause.
“You want to try and have her on your side,” Trump said as Loomer laughed. Loomer that day responded to criticism, posting on X, “The only people who are worried about President Trump embracing me are people who are disloyal to him and have something to hide. I’ve been nothing but a net positive for President Trump.”
The Wall Street Journal
