Donald Trump is being damaged by his association with Florida-based activist Laura Loomer, according to a number of academics specializing in American politics, with one warning it is playing into Kamala Harris‘s claim that he is an “unserious man.”
Loomer accompanied Trump to two 9/11 memorial events on Wednesday, in New York City and Pennsylvania. This proved controversial as last year she shared a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, which described the 2001 attacks as “an Inside Job.”
It came just days after Loomer was accused of making “appalling and extremely racist” comments on X by House Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, another close Trump ally. This was a response to the Florida conservative launching a racially charged attack on Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris over her Indian ancestry, stating that “the White House will smell like curry” if she wins in November.
Despite criticism of her from within his MAGA movement Trump spoke positively about Loomer at a press conference on Friday, describing her as “a free spirit.”
Asked about attacks on Loomer from some Republicans Trump replied: “Well, I don’t know what they would say. Laura has been a supporter of mine, just like a lot of people are supporters, and she’s been a supporter of mine. She speaks very positively of the campaign… Laura has to say what she wants. She’s a she’s a free spirit.”
Speaking to Newsweek Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey in the U.K., warned Trump’s relationship with Loomer was damaging him with “undecided voters.”
He said: “The fact that the media is awash with speculation on the nature of Trump’s relationship with Loomer should be a worry to him, but, as so often, doesn’t seem to have registered with 45 as something that might impact his campaign.
“Loomer is regarded as a dangerous conspiracist, and to be allied with her in any way will damage Trump’s standing with the undecided voters he needs on his side if he is to prevail in November. He doesn’t need sideshows now, and being seen at key events with Loomer players squarely into Harris’ assertion that Trump is an ‘unserious man.'”
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Stephanie Keith/GETTY
Thomas Gift, who heads the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London, agreed Loomer is damaging Trump, though he also noted that many non-politically engaged Americans are likely unaware of the controversy.
He told Newsweek: “Trump’s association with Laura Loomer isn’t doing him any favors. When even Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks you’re too extreme, you know you’ve got problems. Trump has been linked to some less-than-upstanding characters in the past, including white supremacists and conspiracy theorists. But even by his standards, his connections to Loomer are troubling.
“Still, the overwhelming majority of Americans have never heard the name “Laura Loomer,” and those who have are mostly extremely online adults who already know who they’re voting for.”
Dafydd Townley, who teaches American politics at the U.K.’s University of Portsmouth, told Newsweek the controversy is unlikely to have much impact on the electorate though he did warn it could impact Trump’s core support.
He said: “Despite Trump refusing to condemn Loomer in his press conference yesterday, [after] she came under intense criticism from Republicans of all persuasions. While it is unlikely to affect his pull with the electorate, it would be foolish for Trump to allow the situation to develop further into something that causes a significant schism in his support.”
Newsweek contacted Loomer and representatives of Donald Trump‘s 2024 presidential election campaign for comment via email on Saturday outside of regular office hours.