The White House has removed several administration officials, including at least three members of the National Security Council (NSC), after President Donald Trump met with far-right activist Laura Loomer, according to US media reports on Friday (IST). The dismissals have sparked concerns about the influence of external political figures on national security staffing decisions.

Loomer’s Alleged Role in Firings: Loomer, known for her controversial views and conspiracy theories, reportedly pushed for the removal of multiple NSC staff members, questioning their loyalty to the administration. She visited the White House on Wednesday (local time) with documents that allegedly cast doubt on their allegiance. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz attempted to defend his team but had little influence in preventing the terminations.

According to CNN, Loomer compiled a list of a dozen officials, and her meeting with Trump directly led to several firings. Among those dismissed were Brian Walsh, director for intelligence; Thomas Boodry, senior director for legislative affairs; and David Feith, senior director for technology and national security. These officials had undergone vetting to ensure their alignment with Trump’s agenda under the supervision of Sergio Gor, head of the Presidential Personnel Office.

Trump Denies Loomer’s Influence: Speaking aboard Air Force One on Thursday, Trump defended the dismissals, stating, “We will always let go of people who don’t align with us, aren’t fit for the job, or have divided loyalties.” However, he denied that Loomer played any role in the decision, instead calling her “a very good patriot.”

Senior Officials Targeted: Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong was reportedly one of Loomer’s main targets, with accusations that he was a “Never Trumper.” A CNN report suggests that Waltz hesitated to remove Wong due to his involvement in a separate controversy over leaked Signal messages related to US military strikes in Yemen. Loomer alleged that Wong intentionally added a journalist to the Yemen strike group chat to damage the administration, though no evidence supports this claim.

While Waltz has retained his position, The New York Times reports that Trump is closely monitoring the situation before making additional personnel decisions. Waltz’s presence with Trump in Miami on Thursday, ahead of the LIV Golf tournament at Trump’s Doral club, indicates that he still has the president’s confidence for now.

Meeting on Staff Loyalty: The meeting where Loomer pushed for these dismissals was attended by several key officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Communications Director Steven Cheung, and Vice President JD Vance. Republican Representative Scott Perry, a strong Trump ally, also participated, raising his own concerns about staff loyalty. However, the administration has not clarified its definition of “loyalty” in this context.

This is not the first time external figures have influenced national security staffing. Previously, activist Christopher Rufo exposed internal messages that led to firings ordered by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also briefly secured an advisory role, using his influence to push for significant government funding cuts.

Who is Laura Loomer?: Laura Loomer is a far-right activist and conspiracy theorist known for her anti-Muslim rhetoric and controversial claims, including suggesting that the September 11 attacks were an “inside job.” She graduated from Barry University in 2015 and has worked with right-wing outlets like Project Veritas, Rebel News, and InfoWars.

Loomer ran as the Republican nominee in Florida’s 2020 House elections, losing to Democrat Lois Frankel. She also failed to win the Republican primary in 2022. Despite being banned from major social media platforms for spreading misinformation and hate speech, she remains active on alternative sites. Loomer has maintained a relationship with Trump and has met with him to present her findings. However, she declined to share details of their discussions, stating on X, “Out of respect for President Trump and the privacy of the Oval Office, I will not disclose details.” Despite ongoing controversies, she continues to be a notable figure in far-right political circles.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Laura Loomer X account.