Laura Loomer, one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken allies and a longtime critic of Ukraine, has dramatically reversed her position after a visit to Kyiv and a face-to-face interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The shift is remarkable for a conservative activist who spent years promoting narratives critical of Ukraine while questioning U.S. support for Kyiv’s war effort. During her 45-minute interview with Zelensky, Loomer admitted that many of her previous views were based on misinformation that benefited Russia.
“I was bamboozled by Russian propaganda,” Loomer told the Ukrainian leader, acknowledging that she had accepted false claims about Ukraine and its government.
Her public admission represents one of the most significant opinion changes among prominent MAGA voices since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The timing has drawn widespread attention because President Trump quickly praised the interview, sharing a promotional clip on Truth Social with the comment, “Very good!!!” According to CNN, senior administration officials were unaware Loomer had traveled to Ukraine before the interview became public.
Loomer’s visit also coincided with important diplomatic activity. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio was meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Philippines, Loomer was in Kyiv discussing peace efforts directly with Zelensky.
During their conversation, Zelensky expressed confidence in working with Trump to pursue an end to the war and indicated he would be willing to sign a peace agreement with Russia at either the White House or Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence if negotiations reached that stage.
Sources familiar with the visit told CNN that Ukrainian officials had made a concerted effort in recent weeks to change Loomer’s perception of the conflict, believing her influence within Trump’s political circle could prove valuable.
The visit marked a complete departure from Loomer’s previous rhetoric. She had repeatedly accused Ukraine of wrongdoing, questioned Zelensky’s leadership, and even contributed opinion pieces to RT, the Russian state-funded media network.
After meeting with Zelensky and prominent Ukrainian Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, Loomer publicly distanced herself from many of those earlier claims. She also praised Ukraine’s military innovation, particularly its use of drone technology, and welcomed the country’s efforts to combat antisemitism.
Not everyone accepted her transformation at face value. Critics across the political spectrum questioned whether her new position reflected a genuine change of heart or a strategic political calculation. Loomer has insisted that Ukraine did not finance her trip, saying she paid for her own airfare while declining to discuss other travel expenses.
Her changing stance has also intensified tensions within the conservative movement. Loomer has increasingly criticized fellow conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who remains firmly opposed to U.S. support for Ukraine and continues to advocate a more isolationist foreign policy.
The disagreement highlights growing divisions inside the MAGA movement as Trump weighs his approach to the war. While some supporters continue to argue against American involvement, others appear more receptive to backing Ukraine, particularly if doing so aligns with Trump’s diplomatic objectives.
The political debate comes as fighting continues to escalate. Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, while Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory have expanded in scale. At the same time, Congress is considering additional sanctions against Moscow as pressure mounts for renewed peace negotiations.
Whether Loomer’s reversal ultimately influences Trump’s broader Ukraine strategy remains uncertain. However, her dramatic change of position underscores the evolving debate within Trump’s political coalition over one of the world’s most consequential conflicts.
