Controversial right-wing influencer Laura Loomer's about-face gives Ukraine hope

The winds of change are blowing for Ukraine, not just on the battlefield and in the U.S. Senate, but also online. Controversial right-wing influencer Laura Loomer has made a dramatic about-face, transforming from a purveyor of Russian propaganda to a supporter of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

Loomer, once dubbed too toxic to even name by media personality Tucker Carlson, had previously been banned from most social media platforms. Upon regaining access to X in 2022, she began publishing Kremlin-friendly messages, writing for Russian state media RT and spreading fabricated stories. She even referred to Zelenskyy as a "self-hating Nazi Jew."

Now, however, Loomer is in Kyiv, having completely changed her perspective on the war. "I feel like a scumbag for having minimized the Ukrainians' struggle over the last five years," she stated in a video posted on X. This transformation has taken her followers, largely composed of MAGA voters and conspiracy theorists, by surprise. Some, like fellow right-wing influencer Tim Pool, have indicated they are reconsidering their own views on the war.

The exact reasons for Loomer's trip to Ukraine remain unclear, though she claims the country did not sponsor her visit. Some speculate her shift may be influenced by a feud with conservative commentator Candace Owens, who recently visited Moscow and published pro-Russian posts. Both Loomer and Owens were once aligned within the American right wing, but Owens has since distanced herself from the MAGA sphere, unlike Loomer, who has remained loyal to former President Trump.

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I feel like a scumbag for having minimized the Ukrainians' struggle over the last five years