History of Laura Loomer in Timeline
Laura Loomer is an American far-right political activist known for her controversial views, which are often labeled as anti-Muslim, white nationalist, and conspiratorial. She unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Florida's 21st district in 2020 and 11th district in 2022.
May 21, 1993: Birth of Laura Loomer
Laura Elizabeth Loomer was born on May 21, 1993.
2012: Lois Frankel's Representation of Florida's 21st Congressional District
Lois Frankel began representing Florida's 21st congressional district in 2012.
March 2015: Controversial Video and Suspension from Barry University
In March 2015, Loomer recorded a video with Barry University officials discussing a club named "Sympathetic Students in Support of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria." The video, released by Project Veritas, led to Loomer's suspension and criminal charges for recording an individual without consent.
July 2015: Alleged Attempt to Entrap Hillary Clinton Campaign Workers
Loomer and two others allegedly posed as Hillary Clinton supporters and attempted to entrap campaign workers into accepting illegal cash donations in July 2015.
2015: Graduation from Barry University
Loomer graduated from Barry University in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.
June 2016: Orlando Nightclub Shooting
The Orlando nightclub shooting, perpetrated by Noor Salman's husband, occurred in June 2016.
November 8, 2016: Incident at Polling Station
On November 8, 2016, Loomer wore a burqa to a polling station and attempted to vote under Huma Abedin's name.
2016: Emergence of Rumors about Ilhan Omar
In 2016, unsubstantiated rumors began circulating within Minnesota politics, alleging that Ilhan Omar had married her brother to grant him U.S. citizenship. These rumors persisted and became a point of contention in subsequent years.
February 2017: Ban from Medium
Laura Loomer was banned from the blogging platform Medium in February 2017 following the platform's expanded policies against disinformation and hate speech.
June 10, 2017: Speech at "Anti-Sharia" March and Fearless Girl Statue Incident
Loomer delivered a speech at an "anti-Sharia" march in New York City on June 10, 2017. She also placed a burqa on the Fearless Girl statue.
June 16, 2017: Disruption of Shakespeare in the Park Performance
Loomer disrupted a performance of Julius Caesar at Shakespeare in the Park on June 16, 2017, protesting its portrayal of Donald Trump. She was arrested for disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.
August 2017: Appointment as a "Shillman Fellow"
Loomer was named a "Shillman Fellow" in August 2017, with funding from Robert J. Shillman contributing to her salary.
November 1, 2017: Anti-Muslim Tweets and Ride-Sharing Bans
On November 1, 2017, following a terrorist attack in New York City, Loomer posted a series of tweets expressing anti-Muslim sentiments, including blaming all Muslims for the attack and calling for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. As a result of her tweets, both Uber and Lyft banned her from using their services.
November 2017: Bans from Uber and Lyft
Loomer was banned from both Uber and Lyft in November 2017, following a series of anti-Muslim tweets.
2017: False Claims About Las Vegas Shooting
Loomer falsely claimed that the perpetrator of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting had ties to ISIS.
2017: Alleged Relationship with Tim Gionet and Support for Christian Nationalism
In 2017, Loomer was reported to be dating alt-right activist Tim Gionet, known for his provocative and offensive online presence. Loomer also expressed support for Christian nationalism, aligning herself with a political ideology that advocates for Christian values as central to American identity and governance.
2017: Endorsement of White Nationalist Views and Attendance at Anti-Sharia Event
In 2017, Loomer made statements aligning herself with white nationalist viewpoints, expressing approval of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean Sea, and endorsing the Great Replacement theory. She also attended an anti-sharia event where the neo-Nazi group Identity Evropa was present, defending her attendance by stating there was "nothing wrong" with preserving white European culture.
February 2018: False Claims About Parkland School Shooting
Loomer falsely claimed that the February 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida was staged.
March 2018: Harassment at Noor Salman Trial
In March 2018, Loomer attended the trial of Noor Salman, wife of the Orlando nightclub shooter, using her press credentials. After harassing Salman's family, her credentials were revoked. She returned the next day and was removed by a U.S. Marshal.
April 2018: Disruption of James Comey Book Event
Loomer disrupted a promotional event for James Comey's book, "A Higher Loyalty," in April 2018 and was removed by security.
May 2018: False Claims About Santa Fe School Shooting
Loomer made false claims about the May 2018 school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, alleging it was staged and involved crisis actors.
July 2018: False Claims About Mark Einerwold
Loomer falsely labeled Mark Einerwold, who was arrested with bomb-making equipment, as a "leftist antifa terrorist" in July 2018 despite evidence suggesting he held conservative views.
August 2018: Disruption of Ilhan Omar Campaign Event and Twitter Ban
In August 2018, Loomer disrupted a campaign event for Ilhan Omar, where she made accusations of antisemitism. This event, along with subsequent tweets about Omar, led to Loomer being permanently banned from Twitter for violating the platform's rules against hateful conduct.
August 2018: Disruption of Rashida Tlaib Campaign Event
In August 2018, Loomer disrupted a congressional campaign event for Ilhan Omar, where Rashida Tlaib was present. Loomer's actions, including shouting questions about Tlaib's stance on Hamas, led to a confrontation where Loomer alleged that Tlaib grabbed her cellphone.
August 2018: Confrontation with Ilhan Omar at Campaign Event
Loomer confronted Ilhan Omar at a campaign event in August 2018, accusing her of immigration irregularities based on the baseless rumor about Omar's brother. This confrontation added fuel to the ongoing controversy surrounding Omar's background.
September 2018: Disruption of House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing
Loomer interrupted a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in September 2018, accusing Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey of censorship and election interference. She was escorted out while Republican representative Billy Long lightheartedly mocked the situation.
October 2018: Removal from Andrew Gillum Campaign Event
Police escorted Loomer from a campaign event for Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida, in October 2018.
October 2018: False Flag Claims About Mail Bombing Attempts
During the October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts, Loomer falsely claimed the attacks were a "false flag" operation orchestrated by Democrats.
November 2018: Ban from Twitter and Protest at Twitter Headquarters
In November 2018, Twitter banned Loomer for violating its policies against hateful conduct. In protest, she handcuffed herself to Twitter's New York headquarters for two hours before being released by police.
2018: Lawsuit Against Tech Companies
In 2018, Loomer initiated a lawsuit against tech giants Twitter, Apple, Facebook, and Google, alleging suppression of conservative speech. Represented by Larry Klayman, the case was dismissed at both district and circuit court levels, with the courts asserting that social media companies are not bound by the First Amendment.
2018: Twitter Ban and Lawsuit Against CAIR
In 2018, Laura Loomer was banned from Twitter. Following this, she and her company, Illoominate Media, filed a lawsuit against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), alleging a conspiracy with Twitter to ban her.
January 14, 2019: Protest at Nancy Pelosi's Home
Loomer and others trespassed onto Nancy Pelosi's property in Napa, California, on January 14, 2019, to protest immigration policies.
January 30, 2019: Protests at California Governor's Mansion and Mexican Restaurant
Loomer participated in a protest at the California Governor's Mansion and later confronted patrons at a Mexican restaurant, both on January 30, 2019.
February 2019: Investigation into Ilhan Omar's Immigration Status
In February 2019, Loomer, along with Jacob Wohl and Ali Alexander, traveled to Minnesota to investigate claims about Ilhan Omar's immigration status. This investigation, which proved baseless, revolved around the unfounded rumor that Omar had married her brother to facilitate his U.S. citizenship.
February 2019: PayPal Ban and Association with The United West
In February 2019, it was revealed that donations solicited by Loomer were being directed to an address linked to The United West, an organization categorized as an anti-Muslim hate group. This revelation led to PayPal permanently banning Loomer from using their services.
February 2019: Bans from PayPal, GoFundMe, and Venmo
In February 2019, Loomer received bans from financial platforms PayPal, GoFundMe, and Venmo. She attributed these actions to "left-wing terrorists and tech tyrants."
March 2019: Ejection from CPAC
Loomer and Jacob Wohl were ejected from the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) after attempting to present their findings from the Omar investigation, which were widely dismissed as unsubstantiated.
2019: Unsuccessful Lawsuit Against Rashida Tlaib
Loomer filed a lawsuit against Rashida Tlaib in 2019, alleging assault during the 2018 campaign event disruption. The lawsuit, centering on the incident involving Loomer's cellphone, was ultimately unsuccessful.
2019: Ban from CPAC
Loomer was banned from the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) due to her aggressive confrontation of reporters, particularly CNN's Oliver Darcy, regarding internet censorship and social media bans.
2019: Dismissive Remarks about Christchurch Mosque Attacks
Following the white supremacist terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, which resulted in the deaths of 51 people, Loomer made dismissive comments on the Telegram platform, expressing a lack of concern for the victims and the event itself.
August 2020: Republican Primary Win and Loss in the General Election for Florida's 21st Congressional District
In August 2020, Loomer won the Republican primary for Florida's 21st congressional district against five opponents, securing 43% of the votes. Despite receiving support from figures like Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, and Roger Stone, she lost the general election to incumbent Democrat Lois Frankel.
December 2020: Downplaying COVID-19 Severity
In December 2020, Loomer publicly downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing it to food poisoning and expressing a desire to contract the virus to purportedly prove its lack of seriousness.
2020: Republican Nominee for Florida's 21st Congressional District
In 2020, Laura Loomer became the Republican nominee for Florida's 21st congressional district but lost to Democrat Lois Frankel.
2020: Appeal Loss in CAIR Lawsuit
In 2020, Loomer's appeal in the CAIR lawsuit was unsuccessful. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Southern District of Florida ruled that her claims lacked substantial evidence.
May 2021: Sharing of Outdated Video of Pro-Hamas Caravan
In May 2021, a video of a "pro-Hamas caravan" in London shouting racist abuse was shared by Laura Loomer, implying a recent incident. However, the video was from May 2021, and arrests were made following the incident.
May 2021: Ban from Clubhouse
Loomer was banned from the social media platform Clubhouse in May 2021, just hours after joining.
June 4, 2021: Confrontation with Jack Dorsey at Bitcoin 2021 Conference
Loomer confronted Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey again on June 4, 2021, at the Bitcoin 2021 conference, reiterating her accusations of censorship and election interference. She was removed from the event.
September 2021: Announcement of Candidacy for Florida's 11th District
In September 2021, Loomer announced her candidacy for Florida's 11th congressional district in the 2022 election, aiming to unseat Republican Rep. Daniel Webster.
September 2021: COVID-19 Diagnosis and Request for Prayers
In September 2021, Loomer announced that she had contracted COVID-19 and was experiencing severe symptoms. She shared her illness on Telegram, requesting prayers from her followers and detailing her use of various treatments, some of which were known to be ineffective against the virus.
2021: Court Orders Reimbursement to CAIR
In 2021, a United States Magistrate Judge ordered Loomer to reimburse over $120,000 in attorney's fees to CAIR, concluding the lawsuit.
2021: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Case Against Tech Companies
The Supreme Court declined to hear Loomer's case against Twitter, Apple, Facebook, and Google in 2021.
August 23, 2022: Loss in Republican Primary for Florida's 11th District and Refusal to Concede
On August 23, 2022, Loomer lost the Republican primary for Florida's 11th district to incumbent Daniel Webster, receiving 44.2% of the vote. Despite the loss, she refused to concede, citing unspecified voter fraud and "big-tech election interference."
December 2022: Reinstatement of Twitter Account
Loomer's previously banned Twitter account was reinstated in December 2022 after Elon Musk purchased the platform.
2022: Lawsuit Against Facebook and Twitter
In 2022, Loomer initiated a lawsuit against Facebook and Twitter, alleging that their policies against hate speech constituted racketeering.
2022: Republican Primary for Florida's 11th Congressional District
Loomer ran in the Republican primary for Florida's 11th congressional district in 2022, narrowly losing to incumbent Daniel Webster.
2022: Speaking at American Renaissance Conference and Association with White Supremacists
In 2022, Loomer participated as a speaker at the annual conference of American Renaissance, a publication known for promoting white supremacist ideology. This appearance further solidified her association with extremist groups and individuals, including Nick Fuentes and his white nationalist gathering, AFPAC.
April 2023: Backlash Over Potential Campaign Role with Donald Trump
Reports emerged in April 2023 that Donald Trump was considering hiring Loomer for a campaign role, but the idea was met with resistance from Trump's team, including warnings from Marjorie Taylor Greene.
October 8, 2023: False Claims About Hamas and the U.S. Border
Loomer spread misinformation during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, falsely stating that Hamas militants had crossed the U.S. border and were planning to attack U.S. cities on October 8, 2023.
October 2023: False Claims About the Israel-Hamas War
Beginning in October 2023, Loomer started writing and posting false claims about the Israel–Hamas war.
November 2023: Atlantic Council Study and Misinformation on X
In November 2023, Laura Loomer was featured in a study by the Atlantic Council, analyzed by Bloomberg, examining Community Notes on X (formerly Twitter) regarding misinformation during the Israel-Hamas war. Loomer was also involved in spreading misinformation about the 2023 Rainbow Bridge explosion in Buffalo, New York.
2023: False Attribution of Social Media Posts and Amplification of Misinformation
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Loomer falsely attributed social media posts to family members of Judges Arthur Engoron and Juan Merchan, who were overseeing court cases related to Donald Trump. Loomer's misinformation, amplified by Trump, inaccurately claimed that these family members supported Trump's imprisonment, fueling Trump's accusations of bias against the judges.
January 11, 2024: Conspiracy Theory about Nikki Haley and Iowa Caucuses
On January 11, 2024, Loomer posted on Twitter, suggesting that presidential candidate Nikki Haley was manipulating the weather to create a blizzard in Iowa during mid-January, aiming to harm fellow candidate Donald Trump's chances in the Iowa caucuses.
2024: Criticism of Marjorie Taylor Green and Kanye West's Candidacy
Loomer publicly criticized Marjorie Taylor Greene, questioning her loyalty to Donald Trump and America First values, and expressing doubt about her Christianity. This unfolded against the backdrop of Kanye West's potential 2024 presidential campaign, which Loomer was allegedly interested in joining.
2024: Support for Trump and Accusations Against Casey DeSantis
Loomer supported Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. She also accused Casey DeSantis, Ron DeSantis's wife, of exaggerating her battle with breast cancer for political gain.
2024: False Attribution of Social Media Posts and Amplification of Misinformation
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Loomer falsely attributed social media posts to family members of Judges Arthur Engoron and Juan Merchan, who were overseeing court cases related to Donald Trump. Loomer's misinformation, amplified by Trump, inaccurately claimed that these family members supported Trump's imprisonment, fueling Trump's accusations of bias against the judges.