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topicnews · September 16, 2024

Which controversial influencer is traveling with Trump?

Which controversial influencer is traveling with Trump?

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Former President Donald Trump shocked debate viewers last week when he repeated recent claims that immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. But where did this conspiracy come from?

Far-right media personality and twice-failed Florida politician Laura Loomer is reportedly one of the prominent voices amplifying these false claims.

Who is Laura Loomer? Is she from Florida?

Laura Loomer, 31, is a far-right political influencer, podcaster and author. Despite her growing connection to the Sunshine State, she is not from Florida; she was born in Tuscan, Arizona.

Since making waves on social media, Loomer has worked with several conservative media and political organizations, including Project Veritas, the Geller Report, Rebel News, and InfoWars. She has also been open about her suspension on multiple platforms, in her 2021 book, How I Became the Most Banned Woman in the World.

Which college did Laura Loomer attend?

Loomer attended Barry University in Florida, a private Catholic university in Miami Shores.

How did Laura Loomer get started?

Loomer became a social media influencer in right-wing circles, where she repeated Islamophobic claims and other conspiracy theories. According to USA TODAY, Loomer first made headlines a decade ago when, as a student at Barry University, she told the far-right website Gateway Pundit that an imam was coming to a campus memorial service for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

She was eventually suspended from the University of Miami after making a video pleading with the university to allow her to form a pro-ISIS student group, which was picked up by Project Veritas. She continued to work with Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe for years afterward.

In 2017, she left Project Veritas and joined the far-right Canadian media company Rebel Media. Her media license was revoked in 2018 when she confronted the widow and domestic violence victim of the Pulse nightclub shooter, who was on trial for aiding and abetting her ex-husband. She was acquitted of all charges.

Loomer ran for Congress in Florida. Did she win?

Loomer has run for Congress in Florida twice.

In 2019, she ran for Florida’s 21st congressional district, a Democratic seat that includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, defeating incumbent Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel by 20 points.

In 2022, she ran for another seat in Congress against Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) on a goal of severely restricting immigration. Webster defeated her in the primary by seven points.

Loomer’s controversies: 9/11 conspiracies, racist tweet about Kamala Harris

Loomer has come under fire over the years for repeated conspiracy theories and racist rhetoric, most recently the baseless claims that Haitian immigrants were eating dogs and cats in Ohio.

A tweet from Loomer last week about Vice President Kamala Harris displaying racist stereotypes against Native Americans drew criticism from both Democratic and Republican politicians, including conservative Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Loomer stood by her tweet, saying many people had contacted her and said “the tweet was funny.”

Another recent controversy that resurfaced for the influencer was her views on the September 11 attacks, which she called an “inside job” of the American government. Loomer caused a stir when she traveled with Trump to the September 11 memorial ceremony at Ground Zero.

Past controversies include her anti-Islamic comments, disruption of rallies by Muslim politicians, self-description as “pro-white nationalist,” and trivialization of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the connection between Loomer and Donald Trump?

Loomer has been a strong supporter of Trump since he began his political career in 2015 and soon joined his inner circle during his 2024 campaign. According to the New York Times, Trump wanted to hire Loomer for a role in his campaign, but the adviser reportedly advised him against it.

“I will not comment on private conversations I have had with the president,” Loomer told the Times. “The president knows that I have always been a Trump loyalist and that I am committed to helping him win re-election in 2024.”

Loomer does not work for Trump, as she made clear on social media. He invited the influencer as a special guest to the September 10 debate in Philadelphia. They also attended the September 11 commemoration together.

Does Donald Trump support Laura Loomer?

Last week, Trump was asked about his relationship with Loomer during a press conference. He called her a “free spirit” and said he had no control over her and that she said what she wanted.

He said she “supports me,” and when asked if he knew about her conspiracy theories, Trump said, “I don’t know much about it.”

But in a later post for Truth Social, he wrote: “I disagree with her statements, but like the many millions of people who support me, she is tired of watching the radical left Marxists and fascists violently attack and slander me.”

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

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