JD Vance earlier this year appeared on the show of far-right extremist Laura Loomer, who told him: “I really want people to donate and support you.” Vance, who is now Donald Trump’s running mate, responded by thanking Loomer and promoting his website where her followers could donate.

Loomer has described herself as a “proud Islamophobe” who is “pro-white nationalism.” She has recently attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, including repeatedly calling her a “hoe”; saying that the vice president dances “like a hood rat” and “is low brow”; and falsely claiming that “Harris isn’t black.” 

She also recently smeared gun safety activist and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is the wife of potential Harris running mate Sen. Mark Kelly, as “brain dead” after she survived an assassination attempt. 

Trump himself has appeared with Loomer; praised her; and cited her work. He called her the “great Laura Loomer” during a speech on Saturday and said that she’s a “fantastic person.” Donald Trump Jr. has also said that he wants Loomer to have a position in Trump’s potential second term.

Loomer’s history of toxic remarks additionally includes: 

• During a 2017 podcast, Loomer said: “I totally support ethnonationalism. Someone asked me ‘Are you pro-white nationalism?’ Yes. I’m pro-white nationalism.”
• Loomer described herself as a “proud Islamophobe” and wrote: “I never want another Muslim entering this country EVER AGAIN!” She has also called Muslims “savages” who “ruin everything.”
• In response to a July 2017 headline that “over 2,000 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean so far this year,” Loomer tweeted: “Good. [clapping emoji] Here's to 2,000 more.” Hundreds of children had already died in the Mediterranean that year when Loomer made that remark. (In 2023, the U.N. wrote that “since 2018, UNICEF estimates around 1,500 children have died or gone missing while attempting the Central Mediterranean Sea crossing. This number accounts for 1 in 5 of the 8,274 people who have died or gone missing on the route, according to IOM’s Missing Migrant Project records.”) 
• Loomer wrote of the 2019 mass murder of 51 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand: “Nobody cares about Christchurch. I especially don’t.”  
• In March, Loomer said of anti-immigrant vigilante violence: “Someone's gonna snap. It's gonna happen. And you know what? I'm not gonna care when it happens. You know why? Because there's only so much people can take.”
• Loomer has said that she wants Palestinian Americans purged from the government.
• During a discussion attacking Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and her constituents, Loomer said that she believes in “IQ science” and claimed that “some of the people that have the lowest IQs are Somalis.” 
• Uber and Lyft banned Loomer after she posted online that she didn’t want to be driven by Muslims. 

Despite her well-documented history, Vance appeared on the February 13 edition of Loomer’s Rumble program. Vance is an investor in Rumble, which caters to right-wing viewers.

During the interview, Vance praised Trump and called for a change in Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate, especially regarding Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). At the conclusion, Loomer urged her followers to donate to Vance, with the senator saying he appreciated it: 

Vance also promoted his social media presence.

Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake is also a friend and supporter of Loomer.