Republicans are urging former President Trump to cut ties with right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer, an activist who has pushed a 9/11 conspiracy theory and racist attacks against Vice President Harris.
- From The Hill's Brett Samuels: Loomer does not have an official role with the campaign, but she flew on Trump's plane to Tuesday's debate in Philadelphia and was part of his entourage as he attended memorial events marking the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Here's how GOP senator Thom Thillis (N.C.) described her on X on Friday:
"Laura Loomer is 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."
Loomer most recently drew headlines for a bigoted tweet mocking Harris's Indian heritage, sparking pushback from conservative firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and condemnation from the White House.
Greene said Loomer "does not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA" and added "[t]his type of behavior should not be tolerated ever."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called Loomer's attack on Harris "abhorrent" and noted the activist has also made "disturbing" comments about Republicans. He told The Huffington Post:
"I think that the president [Trump] would serve himself well to make sure this doesn't become a bigger story."
Trump said Friday at a press conference from his golf course in Rancho Palos Verde, Calif., that he hadn't seen Loomer's remarks about Harris and he shrugged off his association with her.
"Laura's been a supporter of mine. She speaks positively of the campaign. Laura is a supporter. I don't control Laura. She's a free spirit," he said.
Loomer has pushed allegations that Haitian migrants have been stealing and eating people's pets in Springfield, Ohio, which Trump reiterated at the debate on Tuesday.
- Republicans and elected officials in the state say the claims are false.
- Two schools in Springfield were evacuated Friday after a bomb threat.
- City Hall was also closed Thursday after bomb threats were issued to "multiple facilities."
The association with Loomer overshadowed Trump's trip on Friday to Harris's home-state of California, where he argued that Democratic policies in the state have led to catastrophic outcomes.
"California has the highest inflation, the highest taxes, the highest gas prices, the most illegal aliens, the most regulations, the most expensive utilities and ranks as the third worst state to start a business. It also has the most people leaving it."
MEANWHILE, ON ANOTHER FRONT: Republicans are wondering if Trump is adamant about not debating again, believing his Tuesday performance shifted the race in Harris's direction.
Trump spent portions of his press conference Friday railing against the ABC News moderators, and anchor David Muir in particular, who he called a "foolish fool."
Trump's allies on Capitol Hill hope he'll change his mind, believing he needs another bite at the apple to shift momentum back in his favor.
The Hill's Alexander Bolton got this quote from the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, John Thune (S.D.):
"I don't think they got enough into the substance of their differences, and I think elections are always about differences. The contrast this time around couldn't be more clear in terms of their records, their positions, their vision for the future. Litigating that in a debate setting would be really important, and I don't think they got enough of that done [Tuesday] night."
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