Republicans are blaming the influence of right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer for former President Donald Trump’s missteps in this week’s debate, where he repeated bizarre and unfounded claims that house cats and dogs are being eaten by Haitian immigrants.
Loomer flew with Trump to Tuesday’s Philadelphia debate on a private jet and has been identified as a key promoter of the pet-keeping rumors, which have been denied as false by authorities in Springfield, Ohio, where the practice is said to have taken place.
But Trump amplified it in a moment that epitomized his erratic behavior during a debate with Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
“They’re eating dogs, they’re eating people who come in, they’re eating cats,” Trump alleged during a debate on immigration. “They’re eating people’s pets that live there. This is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
When ABC debate moderator David Muir told Trump that the story was false, he stood his ground, saying he saw it “on TV.”
The rumor was also spread by Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, who defended it after the debate.
However, the incident has drawn attention to Loomer’s role, with the Semaphore website citing anonymous sources close to the Trump campaign as saying they were “100%” concerned about Loomer’s influence over the Republican candidate.
“Whatever guardrails the Trump campaign has put up for her, I don’t think they’re working,” the source said.
Trump proposed giving Loomer an official role in his campaign earlier this year, but the idea was opposed by staff.
Loomer, a self-described “investigative journalist” who last year promoted the conspiracy theory that 9/11 was an “inside job,” posted an unsubstantiated claim on Wednesday that Harris was wearing earphones disguised as earrings during the debate.
Far-right Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Wednesday attacked Harris as a “racist” over an earlier post in which she said the White House would smell like curry if elected because of her Indian ancestry, reflecting resentment among Trump supporters over her influence.
“If @KamalaHarris wins, the White House will smell like curry, White House speeches will be delivered via call centers, and the American people will only be able to give feedback via customer satisfaction surveys that no one at the end of the phone can understand,” Loomer wrote.
“This is awful and extremely racist,” posted Greene, who has faced accusations of racism in the past. “This does not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA people. This does not represent President Trump.”
While Trump continues to claim he “won” Tuesday’s debate despite widespread opposition, strategists are struggling to explain why he ignored advice in preparation sessions to focus on Harris’ policies and her record with the Biden administration, and instead resisted her provocations.
Republican consultant Dennis Lennox told Semaphore that Loomer’s presence wasn’t the only factor affecting Trump’s performance.
“Trump lost the debate because of his performance, or lack of performance,” he said. “That’s what happens when you improvise, live in a Fox News X world, rely on Matt Gaetz (the far-right Florida senator who helped organize the debate), let alone Laura Loomer.”