Laura Loomer, a right-wing activist who posted last year that 9/11 was an "inside job," joined Republican presidential nominee in New York and Pennsylvania on Wednesday as he commemorated the .
The 31-year-old provocateur and influencer posted photos from ground zero and shared a video of Trump talking with firefighters in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday morning, writing, 鈥淭hey were thrilled to see him.鈥� She also accompanied the former president to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where one of the planes crashed 23 years ago after crew members and passengers fought back against the hijackers.
鈥淗APPENING NOW: President Trump just visited the Shanksville Fire Department after visiting the memorial site of United Flight 93 and meeting with family members of 9/11 terrorist attack victims in Shanksville, Pennsylvania,鈥� she posted on X on Wednesday afternoon. 鈥淣EVER FORGET!鈥�
Loomer said in a text message to The Associated Press that she doesn't work for the Trump campaign and that she was 鈥渋nvited as a guest.鈥� She did not respond to questions about her past statements about 9/11. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment on Loomer's inclusion in the commemorative events.
Loomer was also spotted departing Trump鈥檚 plane when he landed in Philadelphia for .
Trump has a long history of elevating and associating with people who trade in falsehoods and conspiracy theories, and he regularly amplifies posts on his social media site shared by those like Loomer, who promote QAnon, an apocalyptic and convoluted conspiracy theory centered on the belief that Trump is fighting the 鈥渄eep state.鈥� During the debate, Trump pushed about migrants stealing and eating cats and dogs and later defended his comments by saying he was repeating things he鈥檇 seen on TV.
She frequently makes anti-Islam and anti-immigrant posts on social media and has been targeting Trump's Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, with vile racist and sexist attacks. Last year, she shared a video on X that said 鈥�9/11 was an Inside Job!鈥� and claimed it was somehow related to then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's announcing $2.3 trillion in 鈥渓ost鈥� government funds on Sept. 10, 2001.
The post , which were about a challenge in tracking funds due to outdated technology. The day before 9/11 was not the first time the problem had been discussed.
The conspiracy theory that U.S. officials are hiding information about the Sept. 11 attacks or were somehow involved in the planning has taken hold among a segment of determined 鈥渢ruthers," but many of their most prevalent claims have fallen apart upon further scrutiny.
Loomer鈥檚 stepped-up presence in Trump鈥檚 entourage comes as he has made a number of staff changes in recent weeks, including bringing back veterans of his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, like former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Lewandowski was known for the mantra 鈥淟et Trump be Trump.鈥�
She has long served as one of Trump鈥檚 fiercest supporters in the Make America Great Again wing of the Republican Party. She led attacks against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Trump鈥檚 behalf during the primary phase of the 2024 campaign and has been deeply involved in pro-Trump politics 鈥� and the more extreme elements it has attracted 鈥� for years.
Some Trump allies would prefer the former president to distance himself from Loomer, but Trump has welcomed her as a semi-regular presence in recent months.
When she ran as a Republican for Congress in Florida in 2020, Loomer at a party attended by controversial figures including Gavin McInnes, the founder of the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys. She later lost the 2020 House race to Democrat Lois Frankel. She also ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2022.
The Associated Press
