Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (Democrat) said Sunday that former President Trump's relationship with far-right activist Laura Loomer is a “devastating reminder” of the “exhausting chaos” that existed during Trump's time in office.
In an interview on NBC News' “Meet the Press,” Buttigieg noted that President Trump's running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), had just appeared on the show Sunday morning and was asked about Vice President Harris' comments about Loomer, who is of Indian descent.
“When we have J.D. Vance on the show, we're not having a serious policy debate on immigration or any other issue. We're basically just having a debate about how racist it is to talk about the things that Laura Loomer is talking about,” Buttigieg told anchor Kristen Welker.
“This is the kind of sideshow they want to put on main stage so they don't have to have serious conversations, and it's a reminder of how exhausting it was to deal with all of this the first time Donald Trump was president. If they get back to power, America will face four more years of this exhausting chaos every time we check the news,” Buttigieg said.
Loomer, an outspoken Trump supporter known for spreading conspiracy theories and making racist slurs, flew with Trump to Tuesday's debate in Philadelphia and was part of Trump's entourage to attend a memorial marking the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Wednesday.
“Laura Loomer has no affiliation with the Trump campaign,” Vance said in a Sunday interview with Welker, who also noted that Vance's wife is Indian.
“Kristen, my chicken curry is delicious. I don't think it's insulting to anyone to talk about my dietary preferences or what I'd like to do in the White House. I don't think what Laura said about Kamala Harris is something we should be focusing on. We should be focusing on policies and issues,” Vance added.
Loomer has no official role in the Trump campaign, according to multiple sources, but her ties to the former president have drawn criticism even from some of Trump's most staunch supporters, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
Trump said Friday he disagreed with Loomer's comments but did not offer specifics, describing her as “a private citizen and a longtime supporter.”
In response to a question on the same day, Trump said, “Laura is my supporter. She's speaking positively about the campaign.” He also dismissed the allegations, saying, “Laura is a supporter. I don't control Laura. She's a free spirit.”
