Trump distances himself from Laura Loomer’s racist remarks after backlash: ‘I disagree with her statements’

Former President Donald Trump moved to distance himself from far-right activist Laura Loomer after she made a racist remark about Vice President Kamala Harris. Loomer, who has been seen traveling with Trump during his 2024 campaign, faced backlash after posting that the White House would “smell like curry” if Harris were elected—a bigoted reference to Harris’ Indian heritage.
In response to mounting criticism, Trump addressed the controversy on Truth Social, saying, “Laura Loomer doesn’t work for the Campaign. She’s a private citizen and longtime supporter. I disagree with the statements she made.” Trump was quick to point out that Loomer’s views were her own, not reflective of his campaign, but he also hinted at a broader frustration shared by his supporters.

“Like the many millions of people who support me, she is tired of watching the Radical Left Marxists and Fascists violently attack and smear me,” Trump added, offering a vague defense of Loomer’s motivations, while making clear her role as an outsider to his official team.
Loomer’s increasing visibility on Trump’s campaign trail has drawn concern from within Republican circles, with many fearing that her far-right reputation could tarnish the campaign’s image. Despite this, Trump stopped short of fully denouncing Loomer, referring to her as a “free spirit” during a press conference in California and acknowledging her “spirit” as something shared by many in his movement.
Trump’s efforts to distance himself from Loomer reflect the tightrope he continues to walk between embracing his hardcore base and avoiding the political fallout from his association with controversial figures.