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.”

Hours later, Mr. Trump distanced himself from Ms. Loomer in a post on his social media site, Truth Social, where he noted that she did not work for his campaign and then pivoted to criticizing his political opponents.

“She’s a private citizen and longtime supporter,” Mr. Trump wrote. “I disagree with the statements she made but, like the many millions of people who support me, she is tired of watching the Radical Left Marxists and Fascists violently attack and smear me.”