Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) raised a serious alarm about Laura Loomer’s growing power over President Trump, especially after several high-level firings at the National Security Agency (NSA).
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Goldman pressed Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel at the ACLU, questioning why Loomer, a far-right activist with close ties to Trump, appeared to have the ability to influence decisions regarding the NSA.
“Why is Laura Loomer effectively making decisions about who oversees the NSA?” Goldman asked, highlighting the concern that Loomer was directly shaping national security leadership.
Goldman’s alarm followed reports that Loomer had met with Trump at the White House, where she presented a list of national security officials she claimed were untrustworthy. This meeting reportedly led to a purge of several officials within both the NSA and the White House’s National Security Council.
Trump praised Loomer as a “great patriot” but downplayed her role in the firings. However, her role in the decision-making process has raised questions and criticism from both sides of the aisle.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a moderate Republican, also criticized the firings, particularly the dismissal of NSA Director Gen. Timothy Haugh. Bacon argued that Trump’s decision was weak, saying, “China and Russia are laughing at us.”
Goldman didn’t hold back when calling attention to Loomer’s controversial past. “This is the same Laura Loomer who says 9/11 was an inside job, who has openly advocated at a white nationalist conference that she is a white advocate, who said during the campaign that if Kamala Harris, who is half Indian, ‘the White House would smell like curry, and White House speeches will be facilitated by a call center,’” Goldman said.
He continued, listing more of Loomer’s inflammatory remarks: “Who has said that numerous mass shootings are all hoaxes and conspiracies, who calls herself a proud Islamophobe and perpetuated conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants in Ohio.” Despite these controversial views, Goldman pointed out that Loomer was given access to the president, allowing her to make critical recommendations on national security matters.
The situation has sparked a broader debate about the extent to which a far-right activist can wield power over national security decisions and influence the highest levels of government.
