By MICHELLE L. PRICE, AAMER MADHANI and JILL COLVIN
RANCHO PALOS VERDES — Donald Trump refused on Friday to weigh in on recent racist and conspiratorial comments from right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer, who traveled with him earlier this week to the debate and several 9/11 memorial events.
“Laura’s been a supporter of mine,” Trump told reporters at a media event at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf resort when he was pressed on concerns from Republican allies about his ongoing association with Loomer.
“I don’t control Laura,” Trump said. “I can’t tell Laura what to do. She’s a supporter.”
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Trump said Loomer has “strong opinions,” but said he was unaware of her recent comments, including a post on X in which she played on racist stereotypes by writing that “the White House will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center” if his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, wins in November. Harris is the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants.
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Loomer’s appearances on the campaign trail with Trump have alarmed many top supporters of the former president who worry he is hurting his chances of winning in November, particularly as Harris has driven up Democratic enthusiasm and repeatedly put Trump on the defensive in Tuesday’s debate. Harris was campaigning Friday across Pennsylvania.
Loomer’s comments have drawn rebuke from Trump allies including Republican firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Georgia congresswoman, herself known for spreading conspiracies, called the post about curry “appalling and extremely racist” and said it did not represent Trump’s movement.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., 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. Enough.”