'It’s really dumb': Trump-allied lawmakers take off-the-record swipes at ex-president
Donald Trump's GOP allies in the U.S. Senate are privately calling out the former president for "dumb" mistakes that risk his chances at being reelected, according to a new report.
Republican lawmakers allied with Trump have largely stuck by the ex-president even in his worst moments, but they are now calling him out from behind the scenes for recent errors in his campaign strategy, according to NBC News.
Specifically, many insiders are calling out Trump for getting closer to Laura Loomer, a far-right online influencer known for making racist remarks.
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"No one can keep former President Donald Trump away from Laura Loomer," the outlet reported. "Throughout his third presidential campaign, aides and advisers have done their best to shield him from Loomer, a far-right social media influencer, and similar figures who stroke his ego and stoke his basest political instincts."
Loomer's presence with Trump at recent events has caused infighting due to Trump allies' opposition. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lindsey Graham are two Republicans who have spoken out against her.
Others are remaining off-the-record, according to NBC.
"A Republican senator who is also a Trump ally said Trump is 'often drawn to people who like and promote him,'" the outlet reported. "'It’s really dumb,' the senator added."
It continued:
"Loomer’s willingness to hit below the belt and her influence within the Make America Great Again movement’s most aggressive elements are reasons enough for many of her critics to keep their mouths shut publicly. Few elected Republicans want to stick their necks out. But many lawmakers and donors back Greene’s posture toward Loomer, according to a source familiar with the situation, and some of them are reminding people in Trump’s orbit that Loomer lost two campaigns for Congress."
The report further states, "A Republican senator, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid angering his party’s nominee, said Trump is endangering his chances of winning — and so are the staff members who aren’t playing gatekeeper."
“Everybody’s stunned that he would bring her down on his plane to the debate but even more stunned that she would be riding with him on the 9/11 anniversary. That kind of stuff will create a distraction you can’t overcome,” the senator said, according to NBC.
"Asked whether Trump aides are enabling Loomer for fear of losing their jobs, the senator said, 'There’s a lot of that in almost every campaign, but definitely this campaign,'" the report states.