Far-right activist Laura Loomer revealed she was suspended for 12 hours on X, formerly Twitter, following a heated online confrontation with billionaire owner Elon Musk and a portion of the MAGA base. The dispute centered around President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for an artificial intelligence adviser, Sriram Krishnan, and the broader issue of highly skilled foreign workers.
Loomer’s Suspension and Response
Loomer, known for her anti-immigrant rhetoric and far-right conspiracy theories, claimed her suspension was a result of “raising concerns and speaking the truth about the technocratic takeover of our country and the White House.” She also accused Musk of hypocrisy, questioning his commitment to free speech.
“How can you call yourself a ‘free speech absolutist’ and then punish someone by restricting their speech?” Loomer wrote after regaining access to her account.
The platform, according to Loomer, also removed her blue verification checkmark and deactivated her paid subscriptions, which allowed her to monetize content on X. She alleged these actions stemmed from violating the platform’s rules, though Musk has yet to comment directly on the suspension.
The Online Brawl
The controversy erupted when Loomer criticized Trump’s AI adviser pick, Sriram Krishnan, a former venture capitalist with Andreessen Horowitz and an advocate for increasing highly skilled immigration. Loomer’s inflammatory posts, which included claims about immigrants lacking “running water or toilet paper,” sparked outrage, even among some MAGA supporters.
Her attacks extended to Musk, who has invested heavily in Trump’s reelection and acquired X to champion free speech and open debate. In response to Loomer’s remarks, Musk posted:
“Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore.”
He also reminded users that the platform’s algorithm automatically reduces the visibility of accounts frequently blocked or muted by credible users.
Trump’s Silence and GOP Divisions
President-elect Donald Trump has not commented publicly on the spat, though his incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, shared an X post referencing Trump’s past support for American innovation.
The disagreement highlights an ongoing challenge within the modern Republican coalition: reconciling the priorities of Silicon Valley innovators backing Trump with the anti-immigration MAGA base.
Loomer, who has traveled with Trump and maintains a close relationship with him, framed her suspension as part of a broader issue of Big Tech influence within MAGA circles.
A Broader Reflection
The clash reflects deeper tensions as Trump prepares to return to the White House. His supporters’ divergent views on immigration and technological progress underscore the challenges of uniting a coalition that propelled his political resurgence.
As the dust settles, Loomer remains defiant, continuing to criticize X and Musk while rallying support from her base. Whether the suspension marks a turning point in the MAGA-tech relationship remains to be seen.
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