Who is Laura Loomer? Why were National Security Council officials fired?

Laura Loomer, an American far-right political activist and conspiracy theorist, was the Republican nominee to represent Florida’s 21st congressional district in the 2020 U.S. House of Representatives elections.

The far-right activist once claimed that 9/11 was an inside job.

Loomer also ran in the Republican primary for Florida’s 11th congressional district in 2022. She has worked as an activist for several organizations, including Project Veritas, the Geller Report, Rebel News, and InfoWars.

Loomer has been banned from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, payment processors, ride-hailing services, food delivery mobile apps, and other social media platforms for violating policies on hate speech and posting misinformation.

She has also been banned and removed from events for harassment and causing disturbances.

In April 2023, U.S. President Donald Trump sought to hire Loomer for his presidential campaign, but his senior campaign advisors strongly discouraged him from doing so.

By September 2024, some Trump supporters expressed concerns about Loomer’s continuing presence and her influence on Trump.

Why were National Security Council officials fired?

Recently, Laura Loomer’s name came under discussion after the White House fired at least three National Security Council staffers.

The move came after a Wednesday meeting in which Loomer urged Trump to remove several members of his National Security Council staff, claiming that they were disloyal.

The principal deputy national security adviser was among the three officials dismissed.

According to media reports citing sources, the firings followed the meeting with Loomer. The BBC reports that it is unclear why the officials were removed, while CBS suggests the decision came after Loomer met with Trump.