Influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer spoke to CNN’s Steve Contorno about her role and what she hopes to accomplish within the Trump administration.

Washington

Laura Loomer, a far-right activist with a significant following on social media, has claimed responsibility for influencing a series of high-profile firings within the Trump administration. Despite not holding an official position, Loomer has positioned herself as a 'loyalty enforcer' for Donald Trump, using her platform to identify and call out individuals she views as disloyal.

Her actions have reportedly contributed to the removal of several officials, including a top vaccine regulator, a national security lawyer, and a cybersecurity expert. Loomer has expressed frustration that the administration is not doing enough to ensure loyalty and has advocated for a formal role in vetting hires. President Trump has acknowledged Loomer, describing her as a patriot, while some officials, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have confirmed direct communication with her regarding staffing concerns.

Trump loyalist Laura Loomer takes credit for high-profile firings

Donald Trump seems to take loyalty to a new level, inside and outside his government. One influential supporter is attracting attention on the digital landscape with her personal mission to root out the disloyal far-right activist, Laura Luma, appears to have a direct line to the president, and she's taking credit for a slew of high-profile firings within the Trump administration. Steve Contorno has spoken with Laura Luma and with administration officials about the unofficial role she's taken on. He joins us now. So, Luma, as we were saying, 1.7 million followers on X, and has taken on this sort of role of loyalty enforcer for Donald Trump. The catch is that she's not actually in the administration, and yet she seems to wield this great power in decision-making that goes on within the White House. How is that? That's right, Christina. She is one of the more controversial figures in Donald Trump's orbit, but her influence is undeniable. Like you said, she has 1.7 million followers on X, which is notable in itself because she was once banned from Twitter over disparaging remarks that she had made about Muslims and the conspiracy theories that she has put out there over the years, but with this massive audience, she has cultivated quite a following for her to point out what she calls research into Donald Trump's administration and the hires, and her efforts to find disloyal partisans within Donald Trump's government, and there's no denying that she has been effective. In the last week alone, the country's top vaccine regulator was let go in part because of the stir that she had created surrounding him, also a top national security lawyer, and a cybersecurity expert who was supposed to get a post at West Point. So just showing, just in the last week, the extent to her ability to get the administration to let go of people that she identifies as partisans. And when I talk to her, what's interesting is that she's not even triumphant about these victories. She's actually quite exasperated. She believes that the White House isn't doing enough to protect Donald Trump from people in his orbit who are not loyal to him, and she thinks she should actually have a job in the White House, some sort of formal HR role, I guess, vetting some of these hires to make sure they are loyal. And if you wanna know just how high her influence goes, we'll take a listen to what President Donald Trump himself had to say about her. What is your relationship with Laura Loomer? What kind of influence, with Laura Loomer, what kind of influence does she have in the White House? I think she's very nice. I mean, I know she's known as a radical right, but I think Laura Loomer is a very nice person. I've known her for a long time. And, you know, personally, I think she's a patriot, and she gets excited because of the fact that she's a patriot, and she doesn't like things going on that she thinks are bad for the country. I like her. Now, Loomer made clear to me that she is far from done. She has also made a lot of hay lately about Attorney General Pam Bondi, criticizing her over the details that have been released from the government over the Epstein files. She has also concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., because of his past ties to the Democratic Party, and the people he is bringing in to the country's Department of Health and Human Services. One cabinet secretary, though, welcomes Loomer's advice, and that is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Loomer telling me that she has spoken directly to him about some of her concerns with his hires, and the Pentagon in the U.S. actually confirmed to me these conversations took place, telling me that Pete Hegseth, quote, "'Appreciate Laura Loomer's outside advocacy.'" Christina?

A shipwreck off Yemen has killed at least 68 people, the UN's migration agency said, with dozens still missing after the boat carrying mostly Ethiopians sank.

Sana'a

Migrant boat sinks off Yemen, killing at least 68

After two unverified videos of Israeli hostages were released, Hamas said the hunger crisis in the region puts them at risk. The militant group said it would deliver food from the Red Cross to the hostages under a couple of conditions, including permanent humanitarian corridors.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Hamas says hunger crisis putting hostages at risk

U.S. President Donald Trump fired the U.S. commissioner of labour statistics after weak jobs numbers signaled tariffs weren’t yet leading to his promised economic boom.

Trump dismisses weak jobs numbers, fires labour statistics chief

Government scientists warn that the 2025 wildfire season in North America is projected to be the longest ever, with fires already causing significant damage across the western United States and Canada. Major blazes have led to evacuations, destruction of historic sites, and widespread air quality alerts.

Santa Barbara

Wildfire season in North America shaping as worst on record

A volcano in Russia's Far East has erupted after sitting dormant for 600 years. Scientists believe the eruption was triggered by the massive earthquake that struck the region last week.

Kamchatka Peninsula

Russian volcano erupts for first time in 600 years

An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the special counsel who brought two criminal cases against Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year.

Former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces probe by U.S. watchdog

New outbreaks of violence overnight into Sunday (August 3) rocked Syria straining a fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile residents in Sweida are calling access to more humanitarian aid.

As Suwayda

Humanitarian needs escalate in Sweida as truce frays

Parts of the European Commission's much-anticipated AI Act come into force this weekend. It's been hailed as the first piece of comprehensive legislation aimed at regulating AI globally, though critics say it doesn't go far enough.

Brussels

Rise of AI

EU's landmark AI act enters new phase

A Ukrainian lawmaker and a pair of local officials, as well as an unspecified number of National Guard personnel, have been caught in a major graft scheme that involved using state funds to buy drones and other military hardware at deliberately inflated prices in return for bribes.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine uncovers major drone procurement graft scheme

Over the past few days, Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have released three videos showing two hostages seized during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. The videos sparked reactions from Israelis who are stepping up calls for a truce.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israeli hostage families protest in Tel Aviv

Pope Leo XIV celebrated the concluding mass of one of the most important events of the Holy Year. A million faithful filled the Tor Vergata esplanade in Rome. Pope Leo sent a message of hope for the young people afflicted by wars and recalled the words of his predecessor.

Rome

Pope Leo urges Catholic youth to spread faith and enthusiasm

President Trump explained why he fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on Friday. Government data showed fewer jobs were added to the U.S. economy last month than expected.

Global Tariffs

Trump announces new tariff rates, fires employment commissioner

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who ran two federal prosecutions of President Trump, is under investigation for allegedly violating a law barring federal employees from using their position to influence elections.

Jack Smith investigated for using position to influence elections

Montana authorities released a new surveillance image showing who they have identified as the suspect in a bar shooting in Anaconda. Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 miles away, police in Tennessee are searching for a quadruple homicide suspect.

Anaconda

Suspect on the run after Montana bar shooting

Los Angeles officials are praising an appeals court ruling limiting immigration stops, but the decision may only escalate a battle over transparency and control. Elise Preston has the latest information.

Los Angeles

Appeals court keeps restrictions on California ICE raids

Disturbing new video shows a severely malnourished Israeli hostage being held in what appears to be an underground tunnel. This comes as witnesses and aid workers say Israeli troops opened fire on hungry civilians at two Gaza food distribution sites.

Sderot

Hamas propaganda shows malnourished Israeli hostage

Donald Trump has ordered the repositioning of two United States nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” relative to Russia, blaming a heated exchange with Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow’s military leader and former president.

Moscow

Trump sends nuclear submarines towards Russia

A mass shooting in Anaconda triggers community shock and concern, as witnesses share their experiences and the investigation unfolds amid rising tensions.

Community in shock following deadly shooting in Anaconda

U.S. President Donald Trump said he's ordered his administration to fire the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on the same day new data was released showing weak job growth in July. The Labor Department also sharply revised job growth for May and June down.

Trump orders firing of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner

U.S. President Donald Trump says he ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the "appropriate regions" as a response to comments made by Russia's former president. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata reports.

Trump says nuclear submarines moved in response to Russia

Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has been transferred to a Bryan, Texas, prison, CBS News confirms. Maxwell was previously held in Tallahassee, Florida.

Bryan

Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to Texas prison

The announcement comes as international pressure mounts on Israel over the war in Gaza and the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.

Ljubljana

Slovenia becomes first EU country to ban arms trade with Israel

The United States imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials just as other nations are stressing the importance of the PA in governing Gaza in the event of an end to the devastating war in the enclave.

New York

U.S. sanctions Palestinian Authority in growing diplomatic rift

Ukraine’s Parliament has reversed a controversial law signed last week by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which would have allowed the government greater control over anti-corruption agencies. The decision comes as the country faces one of its most significant political crises since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ukraine parliament reverses bill on anti-corruption agencies amid crisis

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods that don't meet the terms of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement to 35 per cent.

Breakdown