Trump Fires NSC Staff After Meeting with Far-Right Loomer

Key Points

• • The White House fired multiple administration officials, including at least four National Security Council staffers, following a meeting between President Trump and far-right activist Laura Loomer.
• • Loomer urged Trump to dismiss certain National Security Council members, claiming they were disloyal, and presented a list of about a dozen names.
• • Trump defended the firings, stating he regularly evaluates personnel based on loyalty and capabilities, and called Loomer “a very good patriot.”
• • The administration also dismissed the director and deputy director of the National Security Agency (NSA).
• • Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong was targeted by Loomer but had not been fired at the time, with speculation regarding his future.
• • The fired officials included Brian Walsh, Thomas Boodry, David Feith, and Maggie Dougherty, all of whom had recently undergone loyalty vetting.
• • Loomer has been a controversial figure known for her inflammatory rhetoric and previously faced limited access to Trump due to internal concerns.
• • Following her meeting with Trump, Loomer announced plans to start an opposition research firm focused on vetting personnel in the executive branch.
• • Loomer has a history of promoting conspiracy theories and has faced bans from social media platforms for her controversial remarks.
• • Trump's administration previously faced scrutiny over intelligence operations, particularly regarding a leaked Signal chat discussing military actions.
• • Loomer's influence reflects a trend of informal advisors impacting Trump's decision-making, reminiscent of his first term.
• • Despite her controversial background, Loomer has maintained a close relationship with Trump, advocating for a more loyal administration.