Laura Loomer interviews President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. (Photo: Laura Loomer / X)
Prominent U.S. MAGA influencer Laura Loomer, a close ally of
President Donald Trump, has reversed her stance on Ukraine, raising hopes in
Kyiv that she could become an important pro-Ukraine voice, CNN
reported on July 25.
CNN noted that the far-right influencer had spent years
fiercely opposing U.S. aid to Ukraine, accusing Ukrainian troops of war crimes
and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of faking his Jewish faith. She had even called
on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to seize the entire country.
On July 24, however, Loomer released a “remarkably friendly”
45-minute interview with Zelenskyy recorded in Kyiv. She praised Ukrainian
forces’ drone tactics, acknowledged spreading false claims about the war and
expressed regret for amplifying Russian narratives. She also distanced herself
from earlier claims that Zelenskyy supported neo-Nazis and praised a Ukrainian
law penalizing acts of antisemitism.
“I was bamboozled by Russian propaganda, and I came to
believe a lot of untrue things about Ukraine,” Loomer told Zelenskyy.
CNN called the admission a “stunning turn of events,” noting
that Loomer is one of Trump’s most loyal supporters. Trump appeared to endorse
the reversal almost immediately, sharing a clip from Loomer’s interview with
Zelenskyy with the caption “Very good!!!” the network reported.
Two senior White House officials told CNN that the Trump
administration had no advance knowledge of Loomer’s trip to Ukraine, which she
said lasted 30 hours. Her visit was “a vivid reminder of the unconventional
currents that sometimes shape Trump’s foreign policy orbit,” CNN wrote.
On the same day that photos emerged of Loomer with
Zelenskyy, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov in the Philippines. Zelenskyy told Loomer he was ready to sign a
peace agreement with Russia at the White House or Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate,
while Rubio acknowledged that peace talks had made no progress.
Loomer devotes much of her time to identifying and
criticizing Trump administration officials she considers disloyal, and until
recently she seemed unlikely to show sympathy for Ukrainians, CNN wrote. She
used her enormous following to rally MAGA supporters against Ukraine and wrote
several articles for Russian propaganda outlet RT.
A CNN source in Kyiv familiar with arrangements for Loomer’s
interview with Zelenskyy said “significant efforts” had been made in recent
weeks to change her worldview. Loomer told reporters that her conversation with
Zelenskyy had left her with a positive impression.
“Loomer’s change of heart drew widespread attention,
including deep skepticism from liberals and anti-Trump Republicans. Some
questioned whether she was sincere, while others wondered about the financial
side of the matter,” CNN wrote.
Loomer told Puck that she paid for her airline ticket
herself but did not explain how her other expenses, including security and a
train ticket, were covered.
“The government of Ukraine did not pay for me to go, if
that’s what you’re asking,” she said.
CNN’s source in Kyiv said Zelenskyy’s inner circle welcomed
Loomer’s comments and was optimistic that she could become an influential voice
in support of Ukraine. During the interview, Zelenskyy spoke favorably about
Trump and responded positively to Loomer’s suggestions on how to win support
among MAGA voters. He declined, however, to say whether he considered Trump or
his predecessor, Joe Biden, the better president.
CNN noted that Loomer’s change of heart on Ukraine came
partly amid her dispute with journalist Tucker Carlson, who opposed the U.S.
war against Iran. Like Loomer previously, Carlson has regularly repeated
Russian falsehoods and opposed support for Ukraine. Loomer’s suspicions about
Carlson’s motives ultimately exposed a deep ideological split within the MAGA
movement.
The network also suggested that Loomer’s visit to Ukraine’s
oldest McDonald’s, in Kyiv’s Lukianivka neighborhood, may have been a response
to Carlson. Loomer posed with a burger against the backdrop of damage caused by
Russia.
Carlson traveled to Moscow in 2024 to interview Putin and
ate at Vkusno i Tochka, Russia’s imitation of McDonald’s. The U.S. company
withdrew from Russia after the country launched its full-scale invasion of
Ukraine.
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