September 13th 2024.
On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump was seen mingling with firefighters and taking pictures at Engine Company 4 Ladder Company 15 in New York City. His inner circle, including his co-campaign managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, watched from the sidelines. Another figure, far-right provocateur Laura Loomer, was also present. Loomer's influence with the Republican nominee cannot be underestimated, and her presence on September 11 was particularly noteworthy.
Last year, Loomer had caused controversy by posting a video on social media claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an "inside job". This conspiracy theory, although illogical, continues to cause pain and distress to the families of the victims and survivors. Loomer's anti-Muslim posts had also resulted in her being banned from Twitter, until Elon Musk purchased the website, now known as X, and restored her account.
When asked about Loomer's presence on Trump's Patriot Day travels, a campaign official chose to focus on the bipartisan appearance with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, rather than addressing her directly. According to the official, the day was about honoring the lives lost, their families, and the brave heroes who risked their lives to save others.
Loomer, in a phone interview with CNN, expressed confusion over the controversy surrounding her attendance at the 9/11 memorial. She stated that the people who greeted Trump were happy to see her and thanked her for coming. She also clarified that she has never denied the fact that Islamic terrorists were responsible for the attacks. In fact, she is often labeled as anti-Muslim because she frequently speaks about the threat of Islamic terrorism in America.
Loomer's proximity to Trump on Wednesday was a testament to her growing influence over him. She even has his personal number and has utilized it, according to a source familiar with their relationship. Loomer has accompanied Trump on multiple trips, appears at his events, and has even been known to pre-empt his next line of attack on social media.
Trump has always been drawn to conspiracy theories and has often aligned himself with those who promote them, especially if they show support for him. In the past, he was one of the main proponents of the false claim that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. And after his loss in the 2020 election, Trump surrounded himself with people who claimed, with questionable or debunked evidence, that he had actually won.
However, some close to the former president have pointed to Loomer as a contributor to the recent conspiracy theories that Trump has been promoting since Harris replaced Biden as his opponent. An adviser even claimed that Loomer was the source of Trump's controversial remarks about Harris' ethnicity at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. Loomer had accused Harris of hiding her Black heritage on X, a baseless and harmful accusation.
Despite these claims, Loomer maintained that she does not believe it is racist to mock Harris for pandering to different groups in an attempt to relate to them. She did not comment on whether she influenced Trump's remarks. Loomer was also seen deboarding Trump's private plane before his debate with Harris in Philadelphia, and just hours later, Trump made a comment about immigrants "eating the pets" of Ohioans, referencing a false rumor that Loomer and other right-wing figures had been circulating.
Some of Trump's allies admitted that the debate exchange was not helpful, but his advisers doubled down on the claim, believing that it would help bring attention to their efforts to highlight migrant crime in the US. Despite the controversy surrounding her, Loomer remains a close ally of Trump and continues to exert her influence over him.
On Wednesday, as Donald Trump made his way through the city, stopping to meet with firefighters and take photos, a small group watched from outside Engine Company 4 Ladder Company 15 in New York City. Among them were Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, two of the most influential people in Trump's inner circle. Standing nearby was Laura Loomer, a controversial figure known for her far-right views and close relationship with the former president.
It was a notable day for Loomer to be accompanying Trump, given her past comments about the September 11 attacks. Last year, she posted a video claiming that the attack on the World Trade Center was an "inside job", a conspiracy theory that has caused immense pain for the families and survivors of the tragedy. Her divisive social media posts eventually got her banned from Twitter, until Elon Musk purchased the website and restored her account.
When asked about Loomer's presence during Trump's Patriot Day travels, a campaign official chose to focus on the bipartisan appearance with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden. They stated that the day was meant to honor the victims, their families, and the heroes who risked their lives to save others.
In a phone interview with CNN, Loomer defended her attendance at the 9/11 memorial, stating that she has never denied the involvement of Islamic terrorists in the attacks. She also mentioned that the people at the memorial were happy to see her and thanked her for coming. Loomer has been known for her strong stance against Islamic terrorism and has been labeled as anti-Muslim by the media for her outspoken views.
Loomer's close relationship with Trump was evident on Wednesday, as she was seen traveling with him and appearing at events where he spoke. Some have even suggested that her social media posts have hinted at Trump's next line of attack. However, others have pushed back on the idea that she has influenced the former president's actions and statements.
Trump has a history of embracing conspiracy theories and surrounding himself with those who peddle them. He was one of the leading proponents of the false idea that former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. And after losing the 2020 election, Trump has continued to surround himself with people who claim they have evidence to prove he actually won.
But according to sources close to Trump, Loomer's presence and influence have increased since Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for Vice President. Trump has become increasingly agitated and unsettled by the current political landscape, and some have suggested that Loomer's conspiracy theories have played a role in this.
During an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, Trump questioned Harris' ethnicity, leading some to believe that Loomer's baseless accusations on social media may have influenced his remarks. Loomer, however, denied any involvement and defended her criticism of Harris' pandering to different groups.
When Trump arrived in Philadelphia for the debate against Harris, Loomer was seen deboarding his private plane. Later that night, during the heated debate, Trump made a remark about immigrants "eating the pets" of Ohioans, referencing a false claim that had been circulating among the online right, including Loomer. Some of Trump's advisers were surprised by this, but others defended his statement, claiming it helped draw attention to the issue of migrant crime in the US.
Despite the backlash, Loomer's influence with Trump appears to be growing, and her close relationship with the former president shows no signs of diminishing. As the political landscape continues to shift and evolve, it remains to be seen what role Loomer will play in Trump's inner circle and how her controversial views may impact his actions and statements.
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