Laura Loomer, the far-right firebrand and one of the most vocal pro-Israel voices in Donald Trump's circle, has revealed a striking exchange with the former president. According to Loomer, she warned Trump that the American public was losing support for Israel, to which Trump replied, 'You're right.' The White House did not deny the conversation, with a spokesperson offering a boilerplate statement about Israel being a great ally.
Loomer's Warning and Trump's Response
In an interview with the New York Times, Loomer recounted telling Trump, 'You're probably going to be the last pro-Israel President we ever have.' Trump's reply was succinct: 'You're right.' Loomer, who has made it her mission to purge the MAGA movement of anyone who wavers on Israel, acknowledged a marked shift in public opinion, even among Republicans. She went so far as to suggest that Israel should accept the elimination of US military aid, currently a $38 billion 10-year package set to expire in 2028.
'I don't foresee the GOP being as explicitly pro-Israel anymore,' Loomer told the Times. 'Whether the criticism is legitimate or not, or whether it's foreign funded or not, it's there. And perception is reality.'
Shifting Political Landscape
Loomer has been courting donors as she prepares to launch a newsletter, The Loomer Rumor, focusing on 'opposition research' to expose right-wing figures she brands the 'Woke Reich.' Among her targets is former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who disavowed Trump over the war and apologized to his listeners for endorsing the president. Meanwhile, JD Vance, facing skeptical questions from MAGA-aligned college students, suggested his support for Israel is not unequivocal. 'Israel, sometimes they have similar interests to the United States, and we're going to work with them in that case. Sometimes, they don't have similar interests,' he said at the University of Mississippi in October.
Likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate Gavin Newsom suggested during a book tour event in March that Israel was heading toward being 'sort of an apartheid state,' before walking back the comments.
Trump's Iran Deal Pursuit
Trump remains adamant that Israel must not have a nuclear weapon but is increasingly pressing for a peace deal with Iran, as the Republican Party faces crucial midterm elections in November. He is on the verge of securing a sweeping truce with Iran that would lift US sanctions, free billions in frozen assets, and open a path to uranium enrichment—mirroring the Barack Obama pact he spent years trashing. A one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding is being negotiated between senior Iranian officials and Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Axios reported Wednesday. The White House believes the memo could finalize a framework to end the war within 48 hours.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Deal
- Iran halts all uranium enrichment for 12 to 15 years, with automatic extensions if Tehran violates terms.
- Iran removes its highly enriched uranium stockpile from the country, though the destination is unspecified.
- Lifting of all US sanctions on Iran and release of billions in frozen assets, implemented gradually.
- Iran commits to never seeking a nuclear weapon and allows further nuclear inspections, including snap reviews by UN specialists.
- Additional clause may bar Iran from operating underground nuclear facilities.
The deal does not appear to place limits on Iran's ballistic missile program. Oil prices plunged on news of the proposed deal, with Brent crude falling by more than 10 percent to below $100 per barrel. Stock markets surged, with the Dow rising 1.2 percent, the S&P 500 climbing 1.5 percent, and the Nasdaq gaining 2 percent.
Trump sent a post on Truth Social urging Iran to make peace, warning, 'If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.'
Israel's Response
Israel is already lining up fresh strikes on Iran should the deal collapse, with senior Iranian officials and the country's energy infrastructure in the crosshairs, an Israeli source told CNN. The bombardments had been ready for execution on the eve of the ceasefire agreed in early April and were accelerated again this week after Iranian missiles were fired toward the United Arab Emirates on Monday. Netanyahu, wary of Tehran's peace overtures, is said to favor 'a short campaign aimed at pressuring Iran into further concessions in negotiations.'
