Senator Lindsey Graham on Thursday became the latest Republican to condemn Laura Loomer, the far-right influencer who has been traveling with former President Donald Trump in recent weeks.
Graham, the longtime South Carolina Republican, has clashed with the former president in the past but has also sided with him. On Thursday, he called on the president to abandon Loomer, whom he called “toxic.”
Loomer has existed on the fringes of the extended MAGA universe for years, but has been spotted with the former president more frequently recently. On Tuesday, she was seen exiting Trump’s private jet as he landed in Philadelphia for the debate.
The far-right internet personality, who had previously described September 11 as an “inside job,” also accompanied the president to memorial services in Manhattan and Pennsylvania on Wednesday, the anniversary of the attacks.
Graham, for his part, was upset about Loomer’s inclusion in Trump’s entourage at major events designed to boost Trump’s support among undecided voters.
“I mean, she actually called for Kellyanne Conway’s daughter to hang herself,” Graham told the Huffington Post. “I don’t know how that all happened, but no, I don’t think it’s helpful. I don’t think it’s helpful at all.”
He repeated the criticism in a separate interview with the The Washington Postcalled Loomer’s previous statements “beyond disturbing” and added: “I hope this issue gets resolved. I think we should talk about things that worry people, and this topic doesn’t help the cause in my opinion.”
The latest rift between Loomer and more mainstream Republicans began when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a Trump aide who was originally elected in 2020, denounced a days-old post by Loomer criticizing Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris using ethnic stereotypes.
Greene, who has been criticized in the past for racist and xenophobic comments, called Loomer’s remarks “appalling and extremely racist.”
Loomer responded to Graham with a post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that the senator had “never been loyal to President Trump.”
“He was booed and booed off the stage at a TRUMP RALLY in his own state for being ILLOYAL to Trump and the American people,” Loomer wrote, referring to the poor reception the senator received at a 2023 rally.
