Laura Loomer, the controversial far-right activist with a direct line to President Donald Trump, has taken credit for a slew of recent high-profile administration firings. But she sounds more exasperated than triumphant.
In an interview with CNN last week, the Trump confidante touted her role in ousting the country’s chief vaccine regulator, a senior national security lawyer and a decorated cybersecurity expert tapped for a post at West Point. It was a remarkable display of influence for someone with no formal government experience and whose online antics once resulted in a ban by social media companies.
She said it’s not nearly enough — and she’s grown frustrated with White House officials ignoring her offers to help vet candidates.
“If I have to do it on the outside because of internal resistance, then so be it,” Loomer said in a phone call.
Armed with more than 1.7 million followers on X and Trump’s cell phone number, Loomer has taken on the self-appointed role of “loyalty enforcer,” scrutinizing the backgrounds of various administration officials for any inkling they once harbored doubts about the president. She then amplifies her findings online, keeping up the drumbeat until White House officials — many of whom see her overtures as doing more harm than good — can no longer ignore it.
