Far-right activist Laura Loomer alleges Elon Musk suspended her on X

The provocateur emphasized the importance for the Republican Party to "have an honest conversation about Big Tech influence over MAGA."

Far-right activist Laura Loomer alleges Elon Musk suspended her on X
Far-right activist Laura Loomer reported a 12-hour suspension from X after a confrontation with the platform's billionaire owner Elon Musk and the MAGA base surrounding highly skilled foreign workers.

In a post on Friday afternoon, Loomer claimed she was temporarily removed from the social media site for “raising concerns and speaking the truth about the technocratic takeover of our country and the White House.”

“How can you call yourself a ‘free speech absolutist’ and then punish someone by restricting their speech?” Loomer questioned. “We need to have an honest conversation about Big Tech influence over MAGA.”

Loomer also stated that X removed her blue checkmark and deactivated her subscriptions, which enable users to monetize their posts through paid subscriptions, contingent on compliance with X’s rules—rules Loomer reportedly violated.

The dispute began when Loomer criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan, a former Andreessen Horowitz partner from India, as an artificial intelligence adviser. She objected to Krishnan’s past support for increasing the number of highly skilled immigrants allowed into the U.S., subsequently launching several posts aimed at Musk and making claims about the living conditions of highly-skilled immigrants.

Loomer had previously faced bans from multiple social media platforms in 2020, before Musk acquired Twitter. Known for promoting far-right conspiracy theories and anti-immigrant sentiments, Loomer has maintained a close relationship with Trump and accompanied him to a presidential debate in September.

Musk, who invested hundreds of millions into Trump’s reelection campaign, bought Twitter in 2022, citing concerns over the platform's aggressive user blocking. He stated at the time that his objective was to create a space for free speech and open debate.

While Trump has not commented on the escalating online conflict, a spokesperson for his transition team shared an X post from Stephen Miller, the incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy, referencing a 2020 Trump speech addressing American innovation.

The clash between Trump’s tech supporters in Silicon Valley and the anti-immigrant faction of the MAGA base illustrates significant challenges facing today’s Republican Party, highlighting that the coalition that helped secure Trump a second term may not always be united.

Musk has not directly addressed Loomer’s suspension, but he did issue a post as "a reminder" that the algorithm reduces the visibility of users who are frequently blocked or muted by credible accounts.

“Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore,” Musk wrote on X.

Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News