They don’t like his nasty “supporter” Laura Loomer
The Editorial Board notices that Trump is hanging around with a conspiracy nut:
We can’t believe we have to write this about a presidential candidate, but then Mr. Trump seems to like the company of Ms. Loomer, the 31-year-old online provocateur. […]Ms. Loomer is usually described in the press as “far right,” but that’s unfair to the fever swamps.
It runs down many of her grotesque statements (although, like all the media, ignores the most vile) and notes that people in the Trump campaign and even Marge Greene are saying she’s damaging the campaign, “to no avail.”
The press is naturally having fun with all this and asked Mr. Trump about it on Friday. “Laura’s a supporter,” he said. “I have a lot of supporters.” He added that “she’s a strong person; she’s got strong opinions,” and he wondered why people are asking about her.
They’re asking because they know Mr. Trump’s association with Ms. Loomer feeds the concern among voters that Mr. Trump listens to crazy courtiers who flatter him and play to his vanity. Is this who the next four years are going to feature?
The problem here is deeper than Mr. Trump’s electoral prospects. A growing segment of the American right is populated by, and susceptible to, cranks and conspiracists. A movement that used to admire William F. Buckley Jr. and Thomas Sowell now elevates a pseudo-historian who blames Winston Churchill for World War II and media personalities who sell falsehoods as a triumph for free speech.
This isn’t an intellectual or political movement that is going to win converts, nor will it deserve them.
Oh snap.
These people have been enabling Trump for 8 long years. He’s no worse than he’s always been and Loomer is hardly any worse than Steve Bannon or Stephen Miller.
I imagine all this will succeed in keeping Loomer away from Trump at least for a while. It’s not like Trump really cares about her. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. But I’m sure they’ll stay in touch. He loves her style.