The internal battle for the future of the Republican Party intensified Saturday as firebrand activist Laura Loomer publicly dismissed Vice President JD Vance’s commanding win in the CPAC 2028 straw poll. The snub signals a deepening ideological divide within the MAGA movement even as Vance maneuvers through a high-stakes geopolitical crisis in the Middle East.
A Dismissive Response to 2028 Frontrunner Status
After conservative influencer Jack Posobiec announced on X that Vance had secured 53% of the vote in the CPAC straw poll, Loomer responded with a sharp critique of the event’s relevance.
“Like 10 people attended CPAC,” Loomer wrote, effectively downplaying the Vice President’s status as the heir apparent to the Republican nomination.
This latest friction follows a history of public animosity between the two Trump loyalists. In January 2026, Loomer attacked Vance’s messaging at an anti-abortion rally, claiming his rhetoric would jeopardize GOP performance in the upcoming midterms. Vance countered at the time, labeling Loomer’s constant attacks as “disgraceful” attempts to sow division within the administration.
The Tucker Carlson Factor
A central pillar of Loomer’s grievance appears to be Vance’s close association with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Loomer has repeatedly criticized Carlson’s isolationist foreign policy and his skepticism regarding U.S. support for Israel.
Loomer recently outlined a rigid “litmus test” for any 2028 contender, demanding that candidates:
- Condemn Tucker Carlson and isolationist rhetoric.
- Affirm that Hamas is a terrorist organization.
- Support the mass deportation of 100 million foreigners.
- Reject “multipolarity” in favor of American supremacy.
“If you cannot say any of those things and you’re running for President, we have a major problem,” Loomer stated, adding that her 2028 vote “has to be earned.”
Diplomacy Under Pressure
The infighting comes at a critical juncture for the Vice President. Vance is currently leading delicate negotiations with Tehran in an effort to de-escalate the conflict sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes that eliminated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
While Vance has historically leaned into an anti-war stance, his role in the current administration requires balancing that base-level “America First” instinct with the reality of an active three-way war. Loomer’s public dissent highlights a growing faction of the party that views Vance’s nuance as a departure from the hardline stances they demand.
As the 2028 cycle begins to take shape, the tension between Vance’s institutional power and Loomer’s grassroots influence suggests the Republican primary will be as much a battle over ideological purity as it is over policy.
