Following President Trump's weekend military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, political commentator Laura Loomer and Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari engaged in a public exchange on social media that drew attention to ongoing tensions surrounding religious and ethnic identity in American politics.
The exchange began when Loomer posted on social media on June 22, stating: "If you are a Christian or a Jew and you live in a city with a large Muslim population, you need to be armed." In the same post, she claimed that "jihadists will try to harm anyone who they view as an infidel or an apostate."
Ansari, a first-term congresswoman representing a Phoenix-area district, responded by characterizing Loomer's posts as "textbook hate speech." She stated that Loomer was "calling for mass deportations of Muslim immigrants and for Americans arming themselves against anyone who may look like they are from the Middle East—Muslim or not," and described the rhetoric as "disgustingly racist and dangerous."
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Loomer responded by referring to Ansari as a "Muslima," a term for a female Muslim, and claimed "You are a Muslim who came from Iran." According to public records, Ansari identifies as religiously unaffiliated and was born in Seattle to American parents who immigrated from Iran during the 1979 revolution.
"I was born in Seattle to US citizen parents. I'm proudly agnostic and proudly Iranian-American," disputing Loomer's characterizations of her background and religious identity," Ansari replied.
The heated online battle occurred during a period of heightened international tensions following the Iran strikes. Loomer stated that Trump represents the first president to act on commitments regarding Iran's nuclear program and expressed support for his military decisions.
Loomer, a former Tucson resident known for her provocative commentary maintains access to President Donald Trump's inner circle. She supported his campaign and has advocated for the removal of White House staff members she considers disloyal to the administration.
Political observers note that tensions surrounding Middle Eastern policy and domestic religious minorities have intensified following recent military actions in the region. The exchange between Loomer and Ansari reflects broader debates about religious identity, political rhetoric, and the boundaries of acceptable discourse in American political commentary.
