Laura Loomer, a controversial far-right conspiracy theorist and former Republican congressional candidate, has recently made headlines for her alleged influence on personnel changes within the White House. Known for her inflammatory rhetoric and Islamophobic views, Loomer has been banned from major platforms such as Uber and PayPal, as well as numerous social media sites. Reports suggest she has successfully pressured the White House to dismiss national security staffers over accusations of disloyalty.
The New York Times initially reported that Loomer attended a significant meeting at the White House, where she presented opposition research on members of the National Security Council (NSC). During this 30-minute session in the Oval Office, Loomer openly criticized NSC officials in front of President Trump and national security adviser Michael Waltz. Sources indicate that Trump may take action on some of Loomer's recommendations, potentially leading to a shake-up within the national security team.
Following the meeting, the White House reportedly terminated at least three NSC staffers linked to a recent Signal messaging leak. Those let go include senior director of intelligence Brian Walsh, senior director for legislative affairs Thomas Boodry, and senior director overseeing tech and national security, David Feith. These firings come at a tumultuous time for Waltz, who has faced backlash after a significant leak regarding military operations in Yemen was attributed to a group chat he created on Signal.
Reports reveal that Waltz and his team have set up at least 20 different group chats on Signal to coordinate sensitive national security matters. According to Politico, these chats have raised concerns about the management of classified information, especially after Waltz inadvertently included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in a discussion about a sensitive military operation. Furthermore, the Washington Post has highlighted that Waltz's team has been conducting official government business using personal Gmail accounts, further complicating the situation.
Notable attendees at the meeting included Vice-President JD Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and communications director Steven Cheung. This gathering took place just ahead of the anticipated “liberation day” event in the Rose Garden. Pennsylvania representative Scott Perry, a close ally of Trump, also joined the meeting with his own staffing concerns.
Loomer has recently intensified her attacks on deputy national security adviser Alex Wong, questioning his loyalty due to his wife’s background in the Democratic administration. She has made unsubstantiated claims that Wong intentionally included the Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a sensitive chat to damage the Trump administration’s reputation on behalf of foreign interests.
Throughout the Trump presidency, Loomer has maintained a highly vocal presence on social media, particularly criticizing the White House's handling of sensitive materials, such as the Jeffrey Epstein files. Her ongoing campaign of inflammatory statements includes remarks about Vice-President Kamala Harris that have drawn significant backlash for their racist undertones. Loomer’s controversial statements have not only affected her public image but also her relationship with Trump, who began to distance himself from her during the 2024 campaign, despite her earlier attempts to ingratiate herself with his team.
The developments surrounding Laura Loomer and her influence on national security staff changes highlight the complexities within the current administration. As the White House navigates the fallout from recent personnel decisions, Loomer's actions raise critical questions about loyalty, accountability, and the intersection of personal beliefs and national security.
