In an appearance on Sunday on NBC News’ Meet the Press, JD Vance, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, downplayed the former president’s relationship with far-right political activist Laura Loomer when asked about a “racist” social media post she recently made.
Loomer, known for her hardline stance on issues such as immigration and free speech, has recently faced intense scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum, including by Trump allies.
The conservative commentator was pictured with Trump at two 9/11 memorial events on Wednesday after she launched a racially charged attack on Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, over her Indian ancestry, writing in a post on September 8 on X, formerly Twitter, that “the White House will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center” if she wins in November’s election.
In addition, Loomer was seen departing the former president’s plane before last week’s presidential debate he had with Harris.
Vance, a U.S. Ohio senator whose wife Usha Vance is Indian American and the daughter of immigrants, was asked by host Kristen Welker, “Senator you are married to an Indian American woman, what was your reaction to hearing those comments specifically?”
In response, Vance said that Loomer “is not affiliated with the Trump campaign.”
“She said something about curry in the White House that I first read about this morning, actually, because I knew you would ask me about it,” he said. “I make a mean chicken curry. I don’t think it’s insulting for anyone to talk about their dietary preference or what they want to do in the White House.”
Vance continued: “Do I agree with what Laura Loomer said about Kamala Harris? No, I don’t. I also don’t think it’s an issue of national import. Is Laura Loomer running for president? No. Kamala Harris is running for president…Whether you’re eating curry at your dinner table or fried chicken, things have gotten more expensive thanks to her policies. Let’s talk about the person running for president of the United States and not a social media personality who supports Donald Trump.”
Welker followed up and pressed Vance, “Were you and your wife offended? And do you disavow those comments that even some Trump allies say are blatantly racist?”
Vance replied, “Kristen, I just told you I don’t like those comments, and we should focus on Kamala Harris’ policy failures. I also don’t look at the internet for every single thing to get offended by.”
Newsweek has emailed the Trump campaign and Loomer for comment Sunday morning.
Associated Press
On September 8, Loomer wrote about Harris on X, saying, “If Kamala Harris wins, the White House will smell like curry & White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center and the American people will only be able to convey their feedback through a customer satisfaction survey at the end of the call that nobody will understand.”
Three days after her controversial post about Harris, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and one of Trump’s most staunch supporters, hit back with her own X post, commenting: “This is appalling and extremely racist. It does not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA. This does not represent President Trump. This type of behavior should not be tolerated ever. Laura Loomer should take this down.”
In a social media post on X on Sunday, Loomer made it clear she has no intention of backing down from the criticism.
“Never back down. You have no idea how many people have messaged me and told me they support me and that they thought what I said about @KamalaHarris was funny. People like people who say things they are thinking but are too scared to say out loud themselves,” she declared.
Trump is being damaged by his association with Loomer, according to a number of academics specializing in American politics, with one warning it is playing into Harris’ claim that he is an “unserious man.”
Despite criticism of her from within his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, Trump spoke positively about Loomer at a press conference on Friday, describing her as “a free spirit.”
Asked about attacks on Loomer from some Republicans, the former president replied: “Well, I don’t know what they would say. Laura has been a supporter of mine, just like a lot of people are supporters, and she’s been a supporter of mine. She speaks very positively of the campaign…Laura has to say what she wants. She’s a free spirit.”
Previously speaking to Newsweek, Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, warned Trump’s relationship with Loomer was damaging him with “undecided voters.”
“Loomer is regarded as a dangerous conspiracist, and to be allied with her in any way will damage Trump’s standing with the undecided voters he needs on his side if he is to prevail in November. He doesn’t need sideshows now, and being seen at key events with Loomer players squarely into Harris’ assertion that Trump is an ‘unserious man,'” he said.
