#Donald Trump shrugs off Laura Loomer association: ‘I don’t control Laura’

Former President Trump in a Truth Social post Friday said he did not agree with statements made by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has come under scrutiny after traveling with the former president and battling with various other Republicans friendly with Trump.

In the Truth Social post, Trump said he disagreed with the statements Loomer made, though he didn’t specify any particular comments. He otherwise described her as a “private citizen and longtime supporter.”

“I disagree with the statements she made but, like the many millions of people who support me, she is tired of watching the Radical Left Marxists and Fascists violently attack and smear me, even to the point of doing anything to stop their Political Opponent, ME!” Trump wrote.

At an earlier campaign event on Friday, Trump shrugged off a question about Loomer as some of his Republican allies sound the alarm about her influence, saying she brings “a spirit” to his campaign.

Trump at the event in California made no effort to distance himself from Loomer, who has made numerous racist and conspiratorial comments over the years, and said he was unfamiliar with her past inflammatory statements.

“Laura’s been a supporter of mine. She speaks positively of the campaign,” Trump said. “Laura is a supporter. I don’t control Laura. She’s a free spirit.”

Trump went on to call Loomer “a strong person” with “strong opinions,” and he said he would go look at some of her comments that have caused controversy.

Loomer is an outspoken Trump supporter who is known for spreading conspiracy theories and using racist rhetoric. She flew on Trump’s plane to Tuesday’s debate in Philadelphia and was part of his entourage as he attended memorial events Wednesday to mark the anniversary of 9/11.

She does not have any official role with Trump’s campaign, multiple sources said. But her association with the former president has attracted attention during a critical stretch of his White House bid.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), another staunch Trump ally, told reporters Wednesday that Loomer did not have the “experience or the right mentality” to advise Trump.

“I do know this, that her rhetoric and her tone does not match the base, it does not match MAGA, it does not match most Republicans I know,” Greene said. “And I’m really denouncing it. I’m over it.” 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called Loomer’s recent racist comments about Vice President Harris, in which she used crude stereotypes to attack Harris’s Indian heritage, “abhorrent” and noted Loomer made “disturbing” comments about Republicans.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Friday called Loomer “a crazy conspiracy theorist who regularly utters disgusting garbage intended to divide Republicans. 

“A DNC plant couldn’t do a better job than she is doing to hurt President Trump’s chances of winning re-election,” Tillis added in his social media post. “Enough.”

This story was first posted at 2:32 p.m.