In an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” JD Vance expressed his disapproval of Laura Loomer’s recent comments about Kamala Harris, stating, “What Laura said about Kamala Harris is not what we should be focused on.”
When asked about Loomer’s remarks, which had drawn backlash from both Republicans and Democrats, Vance responded, “I don’t like those comments.” Loomer had faced criticism after suggesting on social media that the White House would “smell like curry” and that speeches would be handled via a call center if Harris won the presidential election.
“What Laura said about Kamala Harris is not what we should be focused on. We should be focused on the policy and on the issues,” Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate, told moderator Kristen Welker.
When asked by Welker whether the comments offended him and his Indian American wife, Vance stated that he doesn’t “look at the internet for every single thing to get offended by.” The GOP vice presidential nominee also remarked, “I make a mean chicken curry, but I don’t think discussing dietary preferences or plans for the White House is insulting.”
This week, Trump faced scrutiny for his apparent close association with Loomer, a far-right activist who accompanied him on the campaign trail, including to 9/11 memorial services. Loomer, known for her conspiracy theories about 9/11, recently posted, “23 years later, and there’s still a lot of unanswered questions.”
Loomer has also promoted conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift’s relationship with football player Travis Kelce, claiming it is “arranged” to benefit Democrats in the upcoming election. She has questioned the authenticity of mass shootings, suggesting they might be staged to garner Democratic votes.
On Friday, Trump told NBC News, “I don’t know that much about it. No, I don’t,” when asked about Loomer’s conspiracy theories. He added, “I know she’s a big fan of the campaign, but I really don’t know.”
Later, Trump posted on Truth Social that Loomer “doesn’t work for the Campaign. She’s a private citizen and longtime supporter. I disagree with the statements she made but, like the many millions who support me, she is frustrated by the Radical Left Marxists and Fascists who attack and smear me.”
On Sunday, Vance reiterated an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, allegedly eating pets, dismissing claims that these allegations are baseless.
“I hear you saying that they’re baseless, but I’m not repeating them because I invented them out of thin air,” Vance said, adding: “I’m repeating them because my constituents are saying these things are happening. … Clearly, these rumors are out there because constituents are seeing it with their own eyes.”
The senator continued to blast “the American media” for pushing back against his claims, telling Welker, “I trust my constituents more than I do the American media that has shown no interest in what’s happened in Springfield until we started sharing cat memes on the internet.”
The debunked claim about Haitian immigrants gained national attention on Tuesday night when Trump mentioned it during the debate in Philadelphia, following social media posts from the Ohio senator.
Trump said, “In Springfield, [Ohio], they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country. And it’s a shame.” This falsehood, which had circulated in right-wing circles and was propagated by Loomer, was addressed by Trump.
Despite the controversy, Trump and Vance continued to promote the conspiracy theory throughout the week, leading some Haitian residents in Springfield to fear for their safety.
On Friday, Vance posted about a “massive rise in communicable diseases, rent prices, car insurance rates, and crime” in Springfield, urging: “Don’t let biased media shame you into not discussing this slow-moving humanitarian crisis in a small Ohio town.”
Later that day, he stated, “Nothing justifies violence or the threat of violence against Springfield or its residents. We condemn both.”
Officials in Springfield and Ohio’s GOP Governor Mike DeWine have strongly refuted the claims that anyone in the town is eating pets.
“Mayor [Rob] Rue of Springfield says, ‘No, there’s no truth in that.’ They have no evidence of that at all. So, I think we go with what the mayor says. He knows his city,” DeWine told CBS News last week, adding that “this is something that came up on the internet, and the internet can be quite crazy sometimes.”
