Trump tries to distance himself from conspiratorial ally amid cozy photos and plane ride

Former President Donald Trump on Friday tried to distance himself from a conspiratorial white-nationalist ally who flew in his plane ahead of the debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, and who has been photographed cozying up to him in recent days.

The far-right activist Laura Loomer has promoted several controversial and unfounded claims, including that the Sept. 11 attacks were an "inside job" orchestrated by the U.S. Government, that her 2020 and 2022 elections were "stolen" from her and promoted the racist conspiracy theory that Haitian migrants are abducting and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.

Loomer notably caught the ire of fellow Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who called one of Loomer's recent posts "extremely racist" and "appalling." In that post, Loomer said the White House will "smell like curry" if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the election.

Loomer was filmed exiting Trump's plane in in Pennsylvania in the hours before the debate in Philadelphia, in which Trump repeated the baseless conspiracy theory about Springfield. She has also been photographed and recorded on video in very close proximity with the MAGA leader.

ALSO READ: 'Utterly stupid': Top far-right figures throw cold water on conspiracy about cats and dogs

Facing mounting scrutiny over his ties to Loomer, Trump on Friday afternoon pushed back against suggestions that Loomer is involved with his campaign and took an opportunity to attack his Democratic rival.

"Laura Loomer doesn’t work for the Campaign," he wrote on his app Truth Social. "She’s a private citizen and longtime supporter. I disagree with the statements she made but, like the many millions of people who support me, she is tired of watching the Radical Left Marxists and Fascists violently attack and smear me, even to the point of doing anything to stop their Political Opponent, ME!"

Trump added that he was in California for his rally, a state that he said "Democrats like Comrade Kamala Harris and Governor Gavin Newscum have completely DESTROYED."

Trump promised he would, if elected, "turn it all around and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"