"Beyond disturbing": Trump's allies try to blame Laura Loomer for his racist debate claims

Laura Loomer is an appallingly racist, unhinged conspiracy theorist who has no business being anywhere near a major party’s presidential candidate. And that’s just what Republicans think.

Over the last week, allies of Donald Trump — from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. — have reacted with alarm to images of the far-right provocateur cozying up to the GOP nominee. Loomer, who has suggested 9/11 was an “inside job” and celebrates the death of migrants, rode on Trump’s private plane to the debate in Philadelphia and then appeared alongside him at events marking the 2001 terrorist attacks, seen playing “on her phone while pacing between Mr. Trump’s two campaign managers,” The New York Times reported.

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According to Greene, Loomer is a “poisonous” and “mentally unstable” figure on the right, one whose open racism (she said the White House would “smell like curry” if Vice President Kamala Harris were to win) is making Trump “look bad.”

Graham likewise took issue with Loomer’s potential impact on the campaign. “The history of statements by Ms. Loomer are beyond disturbing,” he told The Washington Post on Thursday. “I hope this problem gets resolved,” he continued, saying Trump’s informal adviser — a person he........

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