Mainstream news outlet Fox News, alongside other conservative media sources, disregard former President Trump's alliance with extremist conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer.
In recent times, Donald Trump has been hanging out with Loomer, a notorious conspiracy theorist who has a well-established history of spreading hateful remarks that are racially charged, sexist, Islamophobic, and homophobic. Loomer's accounts have been banned from numerous social media platforms due to her offensive language, but her account was brought back to life on X in 2022, thanks to Elon Musk, a strong Trump supporter, purchasing the platform.
Loomer's presence with Trump during this week's presidential debate and 9/11 memorial services has garnered significant attention from mainstream news outlets. Major publications and television networks have highlighted her appearance with the former president, resulting in widespread public criticism, even within his own party.
However, right-wing media outlets have shown little interest in addressing her proximity to Trump or the resulting controversy. Fox News, a notable pro-Trump outlet, has mentioned Loomer only once since she was first spotted leaving Trump's private plane during the Philadelphia debate, as revealed by TVEyes database searches. Similarly, other right-wing sites like Breitbart, Newsmax, The Daily Wire, One America News, and The Gateway Pundit have also remained silent on the matter.
This isn't the first time Fox and other friendly pro-Trump media spaces have chosen to overlook or divert attention from an unfavorable story involving Trump. For instance, when former Vice President Mike Pence publicly announced during a live Fox News interview that he could not endorse Trump's presidential bid, the network quickly overlooked the news, dedicating only four minutes to covering it over a three-day period, in contrast to over an hour on CNN and MSNBC.
Fox and similar right-wing outlets effectively isolate their conservative audience from events that might negatively impact their perception of Trump, instead offering a safe space where their existing beliefs are reaffirmed by sympathetic presenters and guests.
Despite criticism from several Republican allies, some have defended Trump's association with Loomer. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told The Washington Post, "The history of Loomer's statements is beyond disturbing. I hope this problem gets resolved. I think we should be focusing on issues that concern people, and this issue doesn't help the cause."
Similarly, Republican Senator Thom Tillis shared his disapproval on social media, stating, "Loomer is a crazy conspiracy theorist who often speaks disgusting trash intended to divide Republicans. A DNC plant couldn't do a better job than she is at damaging Trump's chances of re-election. Enough."
Even Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right congresswoman known for promoting conspiracy theories, criticized Loomer's recent remarks, labeling them "appalling and extremely racist. They do not represent who we are as Republicans or MAGA."
When asked about the controversy, Trump refused to denounce Loomer, stating that he does not control her actions. "Laura's been a supporter of mine, just like many people are supporters, and she's been a supporter of mine. She speaks very positively about the campaign. I'm not sure why you're asking this question, but Laura is a supporter. I don't control Laura. Laura has to say what she wants. She's a free spirit."
The business partnership between Trump and right-wing media outlets, such as Fox News and Breitbart, has been questioned due to their lack of coverage on Loomer's controversial association with Trump. Despite Loomer's offensive media presence, these outlets have chosen to remain silent on the issue, potentially influencing their conservative audience's perception.
In response to the controversy, both Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Republican Senator Thom Tillis voiced their disapproval of Loomer's controversial remarks, expressing concerns about her impact on Trump's election prospects.
