As mainstream media exits, Trump insider Laura Loomer steps into Pentagon press

Laura Loomer, a far-right political activist and former congressional candidate in Florida, has been accredited to cover the US Defence Department, according to a person familiar with the matter. The 32-year-old, known for her strong alliance with President Donald Trump, has frequently met with him in the Oval Office during his second term.

Her close proximity to the president and outspoken criticism of senior defence and national security officials she claims are disloyal to Trump have caused tension within the administration, with some officials dismissed soon after her public remarks.

Her inclusion comes as the Pentagon enforces a sweeping overhaul of its media policy. The new rules sparked an unprecedented walkout last month by journalists covering the department, after restrictions barred them from seeking information not officially released by the government. Major outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN and Fox News, declined to sign the policy, citing concerns over press freedom. Only One America News, a right-wing cable network, agreed to the terms.

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The Pentagon’s new press corps, introduced last month, now includes a range of far-right media organisations such as the Gateway Pundit, the Post Millennial and LindellTV, alongside several independent journalists and online influencers who had not previously covered the Pentagon regularly.

Controversy follows Loomer’s rise

Loomer has built her profile through provocative online actions and close association with Trump. Her social media activity has often coincided with the dismissals of several administration officials, though some have questioned the extent of her influence.

Among those removed was Gen. Timothy Haugh, former director of the National Security Agency and head of US Cyber Command, whose departure followed Loomer’s claim that she had pushed for his dismissal. She also linked the firing of national security adviser Michael Waltz and his staff in April to her reporting. Waltz was later confirmed as US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Loomer has previously criticised several Pentagon figures, including Col. Earl G. Matthews, then nominated as Defence Department general counsel, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. In August, she attacked Driscoll for praising Medal of Honour recipient Florent Groberg, who had spoken at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Following Loomer’s criticism, Driscoll withdrew the appointment of Jen Easterly, President Joe Biden’s cybersecurity director, from a teaching post at West Point.

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Known for her confrontational activism, Loomer once handcuffed herself to Twitter’s New York office after being banned from the platform. She brands herself on her website as an “investigative journalist, activist, and truth-teller”, positioning herself as a critic of Silicon Valley and mainstream media. Since 2017, she has cultivated a controversial online persona, calling herself “anti-Islam” and referring to immigrants as “invaders", accordng to the Washington Post.

Despite facing multiple rejections for roles within Trump’s campaign and administration, Loomer remains an informal adviser. Trump has publicly praised her, describing her as a “patriot” driven by concern for the country. Although she has occasionally criticised him—once accusing him of accepting a “‘gift’ from jihadists in suits”—she later apologised.

Loomer’s application for White House press credentials remains pending, despite repeated requests. She continues to operate her consulting firm, Loomered Strategies, which provides opposition research, and her recent inclusion in the Pentagon press corps marks her latest foothold in national politics.