Conservative commentator Laura Loomer has apologized for downplaying the war in Ukraine, stating that her perspective shifted after experiencing an air raid in the country.
Loomer, a known supporter of Donald Trump and a figure on the right, traveled to Ukraine and shared her experience Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter. She recounted hearing sirens and realizing the daily reality for Ukrainians, which led her to express regret for minimizing their struggle. "I feel like such an asshole for minimizing the struggle of Ukrainians for the last 5 years," Loomer wrote. "I often said I don’t care. Looking back, that wasn’t very nice of me to say."
Previously, Loomer had expressed skepticism about U.S. funding for Ukraine following the Russian invasion and had referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with derogatory terms. She also had voiced concerns about Russian propaganda influencing her views.
"We have been so propagandized by Russia and we don’t even realize it," she stated in her apology post, reflecting on her past statements. Loomer then connected her experience to domestic concerns, suggesting that air raid sirens could become a future reality in America if lawmakers do not address what she described as "communism and multipolarity."
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy responded to Loomer's post, emphasizing the importance of her firsthand experience. "It is really important that you are in my country and see things with your own eyes as they are," he wrote.
Loomer has a history of promoting conspiracy theories, including claims related to the September 11 attacks, former Vice President Kamala Harris's racial identity, and the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. HuffPost reported that the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Loomer's statement.