Laura Loomer, a well-known right-wing figure recognized for her provocative social media activities, has had a tumultuous relationship with Donald Trump’s campaign and administration, often appearing to be sidelined. Despite this, she has managed to maintain a connection with former President Trump, and recent events suggest she may once again be influencing his decisions.
In a recent Oval Office meeting, Loomer, a conservative activist, reportedly advised Trump to dismiss several National Security Council officials. This recommendation came amid controversy surrounding the use of Signal, an encrypted app, for discussing a military operation in Yemen. A journalist was accidentally included in the conversation, leading to pressing questions about security measures. Sources familiar with the situation indicated that Trump acted on Loomer’s advice.
Loomer, despite facing criticisms for promoting 9/11 conspiracy theories and her history of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim statements, continues to hold sway. She is notably active on social media, where she has criticized some of Trump’s allies for what she perceives as a “vetting crisis” within the White House, suggesting that some members of Trump’s team are attempting to undermine his agenda. Although Trump often praises Loomer, he occasionally distances himself from her more polarizing remarks.
Loomer, 31, has been an advocate for Trump for several years, even running unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 and 2022 in South Florida. Known for her attention-grabbing protests, such as handcuffing herself to a Twitter office and entering a property owned by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she claims to have been invited to Mar-a-Lago following her vocal criticism of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential challenger to Trump in the 2024 presidential race. Last year, Loomer accompanied Trump on his trips marking the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and other events.
Despite her close proximity to Trump, Loomer never officially joined his campaign, partly due to his aides’ preference for maintaining a certain distance. Nevertheless, her influence remains significant, evidenced by a recent incident where photos from her report seemingly led Trump to end Secret Service protection for the adult children of Joe Biden, his Democratic opponent.
Loomer’s activities extend beyond politics. She has been banned from various social media platforms due to her controversial statements. In one instance, she made a derogatory post regarding Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of South Asian descent, suggesting racist undertones in her message. This behavior has contributed to her notoriety and infamy.
This week, Loomer attended a meeting at the White House with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, chief of staff Susie Wiles, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Sergio Gor, the director of the Presidential Personnel Office, where she presented “research findings.” Although she declined to comment on the specifics of the meeting, Loomer expressed her commitment to supporting Trump’s agenda and emphasized the importance of strong vetting for national security.
In a subsequent social media post, Loomer implied that her advice led to the dismissals within the National Security Council, stating that the officials she criticized were now being defended by Trump’s detractors on major news networks. Loomer has been outspoken in her criticism of Mike Waltz and his reliance on “neocons” within the GOP, advocating for a more radical pro-Trump alignment.
Trump, addressing allegations of Loomer’s influence in personnel decisions, described her as a “very good patriot” and clarified that she merely made recommendations, which he considers thoughtfully as with advice from many others. He acknowledged Loomer’s contributions, stating that her suggestions are often constructive in reshaping his team.
Trump publicly denied any direct association between Loomer and the recent changes in the National Security Council, underscoring her role as an advisor who makes recommendations rather than decisions.