Before Karoline Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary in history, President Donald Trump reportedly had another controversial figure in mind: far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer.
According to the new book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, Trump seriously considered Loomer, 32, for the high-profile role. The book claims that Trump floated her name despite objections from close advisers who warned she was “too conspiracy-minded and combative.”
“Many of Trump’s advisers viewed Loomer as too fringe,” the authors wrote. “But he liked her.”
At one point, Trump allegedly asked his team, “Is she too fringe to be press secretary?” Ultimately, the president was persuaded to choose Leavitt, 27, who had served as his campaign’s national press secretary and was formally appointed after the 2024 election.
Loomer, known for her inflammatory rhetoric and extreme views, had previously insisted she wasn’t part of Trump’s official team, though she regularly appeared at his events. Some within Trump’s circle distanced themselves from her after a series of offensive social media posts, including one where she celebrated the death of a Democratic congresswoman.
Trump himself publicly condemned Loomer’s racist comments about then–Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election, though he didn’t specify which remarks he opposed. In one widely criticized post, Loomer said if Harris were elected, “the White House will smell like curry” and be run “via a call center.” Harris, who is biracial, is the daughter of a Jamaican-born economist and an Indian-born scientist.
Despite occasional disapproval, Trump has maintained a relationship with Loomer. In April, she reportedly attended an Oval Office meeting and later claimed credit for getting national security staffers fired over the so-called Signal scandal — when a journalist was mistakenly added to a sensitive group chat. Trump later denied her involvement in the firings but called her “a very good patriot and a very strong person,” adding, “She’s usually very constructive.”
Meet Karoline Leavitt
Leavitt made history as the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. Raised Catholic in Atkinson, New Hampshire, she studied at Saint Anselm College and interned at Fox News. Before her current role, she worked under former Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and ran for Congress in 2022.
Leavitt is married to 59-year-old entrepreneur Nicholas Riccio, and the couple welcomed their son Niko in July 2024. She returned to work just days after giving birth and gained attention after her mic was cut during a heated CNN interview in 2024.
Announcing her appointment, Trump praised her as “smart, tough, and a highly effective communicator,” saying he was confident she would “excel at the podium.”
The White House has not commented on reports that Loomer was originally under consideration.
