Fruit of the Loomer

Conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer largely took credit for inciting the purge of Trump’s National Security Council, a demonstration of the “services” she is now selling. Former intelligence officers looking for more to the story of General Timothy Haugh’s firing may be missing the point.

Loomer, a school-shooting and 9/11 truther who has described herself as a “proud Islamophobe” and “pro-white nationalist” (while also identifying as a “feisty Jewess”), has grown especially close to Trump over the past year. Photo: Jacob M. Langston/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Julia Ioffe

April 10, 2025

It’s been nearly a week since the Friday night massacre at the National Security Council—which, compared to the market mayhem, felt almost quaint, like an echo from Trump 45. Earlier that day, Laura Loomer, a 31-year-old far-right internet personality, had walked into the West Wing armed with a sheaf of papers, and walked out with a bushel of national security scalps. At least five staffers, whom she alleged were disloyal neocons, were fired from the N.S.C. based on her advice.