US presidential candidate Donald Trump has attracted backlash from his own party this week after a controversial internet personality joined his campaign trail.
Laura Loomer, known for peddling extreme right-wing conspiracy theories, travelled with Trump on his private plane through the week, attending his presidential debate against Kamala Harris on Tuesday and joining the Republican presidential nominee for 9/11 memorial events on Wednesday.
On Monday, she posted to social media referencing misinformation about Haitian immigrants eating people's pets in Ohio — a claim Trump repeated in the debate the following day, raising questions about the pair's association.
Who is Laura Loomer?
Ms Loomer attended Trump's presidential debate against Kamala Harris. (Reuters: Eduardo Munoz)
The 31-year-old is a political activist with a long history of promoting stereotypes, nationalist views, and racially charged falsehoods online, and is a strong opponent of Islam who once declared herself a "proud Islamophobe".
A self-described investigative journalist who champions "America First principles", Loomer is a staunch Trump supporter and Republican Party ally, having run for congressional districts in Florida in 2020 and 2022.
Last year she suggested the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were an inside job and shared a video to her 1.2 million followers on X promulgating the conspiracy. She has since changed her position, telling CNN in an interview this week the attacks were carried out by "Islamic terrorists".
Loomer has espoused numerous other conspiracy theories and promoted hate speech, which have earned her bans from social media platforms, press events, and other companies.
Her views caused her then-Twitter account to be blocked, a decision that was reversed after Elon Musk bought the company, since renamed X. The only other social accounts she has are on Telegram, Rumble, and Trump's Truth Social.
Why did she enter the limelight this week?
Loomer regained access to her then-Twitter account after Elon Musk bought the company. (Supplied: @LauraLoomer on X)
Loomer sparked fierce blowback when she posted on X earlier this week that if Harris, who is of Indian descent, won the November election, "the White House will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center".
She was then spotted disembarking Trump's plane when he landed in Philadelphia for Tuesday's debate, which drew rebukes from the White House, the Republicans and US media.
Loomer also made several posts referencing a discredited claim about migrants eating pets in the Ohio city of Springfield, echoed in the presidential debate:
"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating, they're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump said, making his case for curbing illegal immigration.
The former president later defended the remark and said he first saw the information online.
What has Trump said?
When asked about Loomer's remarks, Trump said he didn't "control" her. (Supplied: @LauraLoomer on X)
Asked by a journalist if he disavowed Loomer's remarks about Harris in a press conference in California, Trump claimed "I don't even know what you're talking about" and said he had not seen them.
"Laura's been a supporter of mine, just like a lot of people are supporters. She speaks very positively of the campaign," he said on Friday.
"I don't control Laura, Laura has to say what she wants, she's a free spirit. I can't tell Laura what to do … she's a strong person with strong opinions."
In a post to his Truth Social account hours later, Trump attempted to distance himself more clearly from Loomer, saying "I disagree with the statements she made" and describing her as "a private citizen and longtime supporter" who "doesn't work for the Campaign".
Trump also dismissed the idea of Loomer having exerted influence on him given she travelled with him, saying "many people" were on the plane. Loomer has told the Associated Press that she had been invited as a guest to travel with him and wasn't on campaign payroll.
What has the reaction been?
The 31-year-old is a political activist with a long history of promoting nationalist views. (AP: Ted Shaffrey)
Loomer's appearances on the campaign trail with Trump have alarmed some of his top supporters, who have taken the rare move of publicly airing their concerns that he is hurting his chances against Ms Harris.
Several prominent Trump-supporting Republicans, including US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and US Senators Lindsey Graham and Thom Tillis, also denounced Loomer after her comment about Harris.
Taylor Greene, known herself for spreading conspiracies, called the post about curry "appalling and extremely racist" and said it did not represent Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement.
Tillis wrote on X on Friday Loomer "is a crazy conspiracy theorist who regularly utters disgusting garbage intended to divide Republicans."
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre denounced Loomer's remarks as "racist poison" and criticised Trump for associating with her.
How has Loomer responded?
Ms Loomer claimed Republicans criticising her were jealous they didn't travel with Trump. (AP: Matt Rourke)
During Trump's press conference in California, Loomer was busily promoting his remarks on X and posting comments about immigrants who enter the US illegally.
Afterward, she posted: "I'm simply a ride or die supporter of President Trump."
In a separate post on Friday, she said the Republicans attacking her were jealous that they were not with Trump on his plane.
"I have never in my life seen such a coordinated attack by the mainstream Media, the White House and leftist personalities to target a private citizen and investigative journalist simply because I flew on a plane and I support Donald Trump," she said on X, threatening to sue US political commentator Bill Maher for defamation in response to his criticisms of her.
ABC/wires