Trump critics say he should be facing widespread 'outrage' over his embrace of Laura Loomer


Some of President Trump's critics are confused as to why his embrace of self-described Islamophobe Laura Loomer, who just won a GOP congressional primary in Florida, hasn't elicited more outrage.
The Intercept's Mehdi Hassan asked why there haven't been "demands for an apology," calls for GOP lawmakers to condemn Loomer and Trump's praise-filled tweet congratulating her victory, or editorials about the "mainstreaming of anti-Muslim hatred." Ultimately, he concluded, the incident shows "nobody really cares about Islamophobia."
The Washington Post's Greg Sargent agreed Trump's reaction to Loomer "should be a much bigger story," deeming it "reactionary illiberalism, naked bigotry, and nativist incitement of anti-immigrant hate." Loomer, for context, has called Muslims "savages" and was banned by Twitter, Uber, and Lyft after making blatantly Islamophobic comments, though that's just a snapshot of her extremist intolerance. Sargent ended his Wednesday column in the Post by arguing "we need to get the language right this time" when discussing Trump since his words and actions are an example of "extreme radicalization" rather than just being part of "culture war politics" or an attempt to stoke divisions.
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Finally, The National Journal's Josh Kraushaar said it "speaks volumes" that Trump lauded Loomer, who he predicts will lose her election, while simultaneously ignoring the victor in another Florida GOP primary race, Rep. Byron Rooney (R-Fla.), who is Black. Tim O'Donnell
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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
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