Trump Claims Ignorance of Laura Loomer’s 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

Former President Donald J. Trump, whose recent travel with the far-right activist Laura Loomer has alarmed some of his Republican allies in Congress, defended her on Friday as a “free spirit.”

Mr. Trump said that he did not know she had spread conspiracy theories about the Sept. 11 attacks when he commemorated their anniversary with her earlier in the week. And he defended Ms. Loomer, who has a history of making racist, anti-Muslim, homophobic and transphobic comments, as an outspoken supporter.

“Laura has been a supporter of mine, just like a lot of people are supporters,” Mr. Trump said at a news conference at his golf club near Los Angeles. He added that Ms. Loomer praised his campaign before saying, “I don’t control Laura. Laura has to say what she wants. She’s a free spirit.”

Mr. Trump drew criticism from Democrats and concern from some close Republican allies after he traveled with Ms. Loomer to Tuesday’s debate in Philadelphia, and she then accompanied him on Wednesday to Sept. 11 memorial events in New York City and Shanksville, Pa. Ms. Loomer had previously called Sept. 11 “an inside job.”

Before Mr. Trump’s debate against Ms. Harris, Ms. Loomer posted a racist joke on social media, saying that if Ms. Harris, who is Black and Indian American, won in November, the White House would “smell like curry.”

Mr. Trump’s travel with Ms. Loomer drew criticism this week from several of Mr. Trump’s Republican allies. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told a reporter for HuffPost on Thursday that she was “really toxic.” Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia told reporters that she did not think that Loomer “had the experience or the right mentality” to advise the campaign.