On NBC News’ Meet the Press this Sunday, JD Vance, the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, addressed the controversial comments made by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who faced backlash for a “racist” post targeting Vice President Kamala Harris.
Loomer, notorious for her extreme views on immigration and free speech, has recently been criticized by both Democrats and Republicans, including some of Trump’s allies. Her inflammatory remarks about Harris’ Indian heritage, made in a September 8 post on X (formerly Twitter), sparked outrage. In this post, Loomer suggested that if Harris were to win, “the White House will smell like curry,” which raised eyebrows across the political landscape.
During the show, Vance, who is married to an Indian American woman, was asked about his feelings regarding Loomer’s comments. He clarified that Loomer is not connected to the Trump campaign and stated, “I first read about this this morning, as I knew you would bring it up… I don’t think it’s insulting to talk about dietary preferences.” Vance expressed his disagreement with Loomer’s comments but insisted that they shouldn’t overshadow the more pressing issues at hand, saying, “Let’s focus on Kamala Harris’ policies, not a social media personality.”
Host Kristen Welker pressed further, questioning whether Vance and his wife were offended. Vance maintained that while he does not endorse Loomer’s remarks, he prefers not to be easily offended by online discussions. “I don’t look at the internet for every single thing to be offended by,” he responded.
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In the wake of Loomer’s comments, fellow Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene condemned her post as “appalling and extremely racist,” calling on Loomer to retract her statement. However, Loomer doubled down, defending her position on social media by saying she won’t back down and that many support her views.
Experts suggest that Trump’s association with Loomer may hurt his appeal to undecided voters. They argue that Loomer’s controversial image could bolster Harris’ narrative portraying Trump as “unserious.” Despite the criticism, Trump described Loomer as a “free spirit” during a recent press conference, supporting her right to express her thoughts.
The ongoing situation underscores the tension between GOP members and their alignment with controversial figures like Loomer, raising questions about the party’s future strategies as they head into the November elections.