Laura Loomer says Russian propaganda misled her on Ukraine

Laura Loomer says Russian propaganda changed how she viewed Ukraine, marking a sharp reversal for a Trump ally who had spent years criticizing the country. Her turn matters because she remains influential in parts of President Donald Trump’s orbit as Washington weighs its approach to Russia’s war.

Loomer told The Associated Press in Kyiv that she had accepted false claims about Ukraine and now wants conservatives to be more skeptical of Moscow’s messaging. The AP interview was moved from her hotel to an underground bomb shelter during a ballistic missile attack on the city.

She said she spoke by phone with Trump after interviewing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expects to meet Trump after returning from Ukraine. Trump shared video of her conversation with Zelenskyy on social media and wrote, “Very good!!!” according to the AP.

Why did Laura Loomer change her position on Ukraine?

Loomer told Zelenskyy on her Rumble show that she had been “bamboozled by Russian propaganda” and had believed false claims, including that Ukraine was full of Nazis. She said her views shifted gradually as she looked at the war more closely and saw pro-Russian rhetoric spread online.

She linked part of her earlier views to her move onto Telegram after bans from major U.S. social media platforms. Loomer said Russian media was widely shared there and that Moscow exploited anger among people like her after the 2020 election, which she continues to falsely claim was stolen from Trump despite evidence to the contrary, the AP reported.

Loomer also criticized podcasters, naming Tucker Carlson as one figure whose rhetoric she said had been amplified by Russian sources. She told the AP that influential online personalities can shape political views so strongly that some followers stop judging issues for themselves.

She called that kind of misinformation “a major national security threat” and said the Trump administration should treat Russian propaganda, foreign interference and influence operations more seriously. Loomer said she believes some U.S. leaders are being influenced by propaganda.

How Ukraine responded to Loomer’s visit

Ukrainian officials welcomed Loomer during the trip, giving her access to Zelenskyy, senior officials and the country’s chief rabbi, according to the AP. Zelenskyy’s office wrote on social media that it takes courage to come to Ukraine despite Russian propaganda and air raid sirens.

Tetyana Berezhna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and minister of culture, told the AP she hoped Loomer would share what she had seen after returning to the United States. Berezhna said she believed the visit could affect relations with the U.S. administration.

Loomer also toured the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a monastic complex that came under Russian attack last month, the AP reported. She has said repeatedly that Ukraine did not pay for her travel and that she went in her own capacity.

What influence does Loomer have with Trump?

Loomer does not hold an official White House role, but the AP reported that Trump has often followed her advice. She traveled with him at times during the 2024 campaign, and last year he removed National Security Council staff after she raised loyalty concerns in an Oval Office meeting.

Her reversal comes as Trump and Zelenskyy prepare to meet in Washington and as Congress debates new sanctions intended to punish Russia, according to the AP. Loomer said her trip had already helped refocus attention on Ukraine ahead of that meeting.

Loomer’s shift on Ukraine does not erase her record of spreading conspiracy theories and bigoted remarks. The AP noted that she previously shared a video calling the Sept. 11 attacks an “inside job” and amplified a false claim about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating pets, which Trump later repeated during a debate with Kamala Harris.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.