How Laura Loomer became an unlikely power broker in Trump’s Washington

How Laura Loomer became an unlikely power broker in Trump’s Washington

Laura Loomer, once dismissed as a fringe agitator, has become a figure with surprising influence in Donald Trump’s second presidency. Loomer has no government title, yet her ability to shape personnel decisions and policy has alarmed Washington insiders. She describes herself as a “loyalty enforcer” for Trump’s Maga movement, someone determined to purge officials she believes are insufficiently committed to the America First agenda, the Financial Times reported.

Her clout has been demonstrated in tangible ways. In June, the US State Department paused visas for patients arriving from Gaza after Loomer publicly denounced their arrival as “Islamic invaders.” Although officials attributed the move to congressional outreach, Loomer claimed credit, calling it proof of how quickly she could achieve results with the Trump administration. Similar episodes have reinforced her role as a political pressure point on policy questions far removed from her activist roots.

Perhaps her most dramatic intervention came on April 3, when Trump dismissed several senior national security officials. People close to the decision say the firings followed a private meeting where Loomer presented dossiers alleging disloyalty. Trump himself continues to praise her, calling her a “great patriot” and meeting with her as recently as August. Such access has surprised even her allies, given her background as a conspiracy theorist who once labelled 9/11 an “inside job” and described herself on social media as a “#ProudIslamophobe.”

Even within Trump’s orbit, Loomer is a polarizing figure. Marjorie Taylor Greene, herself accused of promoting Islamophobia, condemned Loomer’s racist remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris. Other conservatives, including former allies such as Milo Yiannopoulos, have turned against her, deriding her as erratic. Yet voices like Raheem Kassam argue her appeal lies in consistency, portraying her as an uncompromising ombudsman for the Maga base. To critics such as commentator Charlie Sykes, her influence is a sign of the administration’s unconventional — and at times alarming — power structure.

Despite her growing profile, Loomer’s sway is not absolute. Some of her targets, including senior figures like Attorney General Pam Bondi, remain untouched. Others she pushed out, such as FDA official Vinay Prasad, have returned to their posts. She has been blocked from VIP access at Trump events and repeatedly denied a White House press pass. These setbacks underline that while she may capture Trump’s ear, she does not control his decisions.

Loomer’s journey began far from Washington. Raised in Arizona, she became involved in conservative activism while studying journalism. She joined Project Veritas, staging a stunt during the 2016 election in which she tried to vote in a burka under the name of Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin. She was later banned from Twitter and ride-sharing services for anti-Muslim comments, protests that she parlayed into a reputation as a provocateur willing to defy boundaries.

Her direct ties to Trump grew after he endorsed her failed congressional run in 2020. In 2023, he personally praised her for disrupting a Ron DeSantis fundraiser. Soon after, she was invited to Mar-a-Lago, where she claims Trump offered her a campaign role, though internal opposition blocked the appointment. Despite being sidelined formally, she has continued to circulate in Trump’s circle, offering reports, vetting notes, and political advice that sometimes find receptive audiences at the highest levels.

Loomer has not hesitated to attack figures on the right who diverge from her hardline positions. She has feuded with Tucker Carlson over U.S. policy in the Middle East and with Greene over rhetoric about race and religion. While these battles expose fissures inside Maga, they also highlight her determination to stay relevant by publicly challenging even ideological allies.

Laura Loomer’s story illustrates how power in Trump’s Washington does not always flow through formal channels. Her ability to secure the president’s attention, influence high-level firings, and claim credit for policy reversals reflects a dynamic where loyalty and personal persuasion can outweigh official titles. For supporters, she is a grassroots warrior ensuring ideological purity; for critics, she is a destabilizing outsider with undue sway. Either way, Loomer has carved an improbable role as one of the most unconventional influencers in American politics today.