In a political climate already defined by deep divisions and shifting alliances, few figures have managed to stir the pot quite like Laura Loomer. The far-right activist, known for her incendiary rhetoric and relentless social media campaigns, has recently emerged as an unlikely power broker in the Trump administration, influencing policy and personnel decisions from outside the halls of official government. Her most recent victory—a successful campaign to halt U.S. visitor visas for people from Gaza—has sent shockwaves through Washington, revealing both the extent of her sway and the fractures within the Republican Party itself.
On August 20, 2025, the U.S. State Department abruptly announced it would pause the issuance of visitor visas to individuals from Gaza, a region devastated by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The move followed a concerted lobbying effort by Loomer, who had taken to X (formerly Twitter) to decry the arrival of Palestinian children in the United States for medical treatment as a “national security threat.” According to The Hill, Loomer specifically targeted the nonprofit group HEAL Palestine, which organizes medical evacuations for wounded Gazan children. She posted videos showing children arriving in San Francisco and Houston, demanding that officials responsible for the visas be fired.
“Today I saved so many American citizens from being killed by pro-HAMAS jihadis,” Loomer claimed on X after the State Department’s decision. “God only knows how many lives I personally saved today by blowing the whistle on rogue actors at State Department giving visas to Gazan families.” Her celebration was echoed by a chorus of supporters online, though critics swiftly denounced her claims as fearmongering and Islamophobic.
The State Department itself offered little explanation for the sudden policy change, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move on Face The Nation, saying, “There is evidence that’s been presented to us by numerous congressional offices that some of the organizations bragging about and involved in acquiring these visas have strong links to terrorist groups like Hamas, and so we are not going to be in partnership with groups that are friendly with Hamas.” Loomer reportedly spoke directly with Rubio by phone prior to the announcement, underscoring her access to the administration’s inner circle.
Loomer’s influence does not stop at immigration policy. Despite holding no official role in the government, she has become a regular presence in the orbit of President Trump and Vice President Vance. Trump himself has offered public praise, telling reporters in April, “Laura Loomer is a great patriot. She’s a very strong person.” He admitted he “sometimes” listens to her recommendations, and Loomer has met with him in the Oval Office to discuss personnel decisions, including the vetting of National Security Council staff. Following her intervention, several senior officials and aides were pushed out—just one example of what Newsweek describes as Loomer’s “social media generated assassinations.”
Experts are taking notice. Heath Brown, an associate professor of public policy at the City University of New York, told Newsweek, “It does seem like Laura Loomer has the ear of the president and his closest White House advisors. It’s hard to think of someone in recent history that seems to have such influence over key presidential decisions that doesn’t hold an official position.” Thomas Gift, director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, went further, suggesting, “Outside of policy adviser Stephen Miller, she may now be the single most influential voice in the White House.”
But Loomer’s rise has not gone unchallenged. Within the Republican Party, her brand of activism—marked by anti-Muslim rhetoric and conspiracy theories—has sown discord. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis described her as “a crazy conspiracy theorist who regularly utters disgusting garbage intended to divide Republicans.” Even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, herself no stranger to controversy, has publicly clashed with Loomer. “Many people need to wake up about her reporting,” Greene posted on X. “Researching facts and then spinning them into lies to serve her agenda doesn’t make her good or trustworthy. It makes her a liar and it makes her dangerous.”
Greene, for her part, has taken an unorthodox stand within her party. On August 23, she posted a lengthy plea on X urging Americans to support Gaza and denouncing Israel’s ongoing war as a “genocide.” She questioned the morality of U.S. military aid to Israel—nearly $18 billion since October 2023—and highlighted the staggering toll reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry: more than 60,000 Palestinians killed since the war began. “Does Hamas deserve it? Yes. Do innocent people and children deserve it? No,” Greene wrote. “The innocent people in Gaza did not kill and kidnap the innocent people in Israel on Oct 7th.”
Loomer was quick to respond, accusing Greene of advocating for Gazans to come to the U.S. and questioning how such a position could be considered “America First.” This exchange highlighted the widening rift between far-right activists over the war in Gaza—a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and left more than half a million people facing famine, according to international organizations cited by The Independent.
The debate has grown increasingly personal. Last month, Greene criticized Florida Rep. Randy Fine for suggesting that Palestinians in Gaza should be starved, calling his remarks “disgraceful.” Loomer, echoing statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, retorted, “There is no genocide in Gaza.” President Trump himself weighed in the next day, acknowledging the “real starvation” in the region and adding, “you can’t fake that.”
Loomer’s activism extends beyond foreign policy. She has repeatedly targeted Trump administration officials she deems insufficiently loyal, including vaccine regulator Vinay Prasad and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. After Loomer accused Kennedy’s aide Stefanie Spear of plotting a 2028 presidential run, Kennedy took to X to deny the claim and reaffirm his loyalty to Trump. “Their attacks on my staff, especially Stefanie Spear—a fierce, loyal warrior for MAHA who proudly serves in the Trump Administration and works every day to advance President Trump’s vision for a healthier, stronger America—are proof we’re over the target,” Kennedy wrote.
Despite opposition from both inside and outside the administration, Loomer has made it clear she has no intention of backing down. “I’m not stopping,” she posted on August 24. “I’m only going to intensify.” She later teased, “Holy s*** you are going to freak out when I show you who else is still working at the State Department.”
As the 2026 midterms approach, Loomer’s ongoing crusade—and the backlash it provokes—will likely remain a focal point in the ever-evolving drama of Washington politics. Whether her influence endures or fades, her ability to shape policy from the sidelines has already left a mark on the Trump era’s second act.
