Laura Loomer, a prominent Donald Trump supporter and self-described 'proud Islamophobe,' has accused Tucker Carlson of being bankrolled by Qatar, a claim that Carlson's team has dismissed as a 'lie.' The accusation comes amid a deepening rift within the MAGA coalition over whether the United States should join Israel in military action against Iran.
Loomer, who has positioned herself as a 'loyalty enforcer' for Trump, has aligned with hawkish Republicans and commentators pushing for strikes on Tehran, breaking with the 'America First' isolationist wing. She has threatened to compile screenshots of critics and deliver them to the president, and previously took credit for Trump firing aides deemed disloyal.
The dispute escalated after Fox News host Mark Levin accused Carlson of being paid by Qatar, referring to him as 'Chatsworth Qatarlson.' Levin's jab referenced a Washington Examiner report that Qatar's government paid consulting firm Lumen8 Advisors $180,000 per month to facilitate media outreach, including Carlson's March interview with the Qatari prime minister.
During a discussion with Steve Bannon, Carlson denied the allegations, stating, 'I've never taken a dime from any foreign country or anybody.' Loomer, however, shared screenshots of Foreign Agents Registration Act documents and claimed Carlson was peddling 'propaganda' for 'genocidal Muslims.' She also urged Bannon to correct the record, alleging Qatar paid $200,000 for Carlson's interview.
Carlson's team has not publicly responded to Loomer's latest accusations, but the incident highlights growing tensions within conservative media over foreign influence and the direction of Trump's foreign policy.
