March 14, 2026 — New Delhi, India
In one of the most cringeworthy and widely watched political moments of 2026, Laura Loomer — far-right activist, Trump loyalist, and self-described informal adviser to the President of the United States — was publicly confronted at the India Today Conclave 2026 in New Delhi with archived copies of her own deleted tweets attacking India and its people. The moment went viral globally within hours. And then it got worse.
Who Is Laura Loomer — and Why Was She in India?
Loomer, 32, was born in Tucson, Arizona, and studied broadcast journalism at Barry University. She first gained national attention through work with Project Veritas, Rebel News, and InfoWars — building a brand around provocative stunts and far-right commentary. She has run for Congress in Florida twice as a Republican, losing both times, but has rebuilt her influence through social media.
Today, Loomer is one of the most consequential — and controversial — informal political figures in Washington. In the first quarter of 2026, Loomer has been linked to several high-profile personnel shifts, including the departure of FDA vaccine chief Vinay Prasad on March 7 following a campaign by Loomer, and the dismissal of at least six National Security Council aides since January.
She was invited to speak at the India Today Conclave 2026 — one of India's most prestigious annual policy and media events, held at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi — on the topic "Death to Islamic Terrorism: The Trump Approach."
The announcement sparked intense criticism online and within Indian-American circles. The controversy deepened after Loomer appeared to delete several past posts on X that targeted India and the Indian community in the United States.
The Deleted Tweets: What She Said About India
Before her trip, Loomer quietly deleted dozens of social media posts targeting India and Indians. Digital archivists saved them all. Some of her tweets "utilized crude stereotypes to question the intellectual abilities and hygiene of Indian people," according to India Today.
Among the deleted posts that were preserved and later read back to her:
- 🍛 "Curry" remark: Loomer wrote in 2024 that the White House would "smell like curry" if Kamala Harris became president.
- 🌍 "Third-world invaders": She wrote that the United States was built by "white Europeans, not third-world invaders from India."
- 🧠 IQ post: "The average IQ in India is 76. 'Best and brightest'!"
- 🚰 Hygiene post: "Ok I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong. India does have running water. It just runs out of people's asses."
- 🏛️ "Go back to India": She repeatedly told Indian-origin U.S. Congress members to "go back to India" — including Democratic Congressman Shri Thanedar, whom she called an "Indian scammer."
- ⚖️ Rape culture: Some of her posts, which have since been taken down, called India a "rape culture," which made Indian-Americans and other online groups even angrier.
The Confrontation: Moderator Reads the Tweets Back to Her Face
During a panel discussion, the moderator told Loomer that her offensive tweets had actually managed to unite the country's left and right-leaning politicos against her. "They've come together in the criticism, Laura, of some of your tweets earlier — you've deleted most of them. What do you perceive of your view of India and Indians? Do you regret it, because you deleted them, so that's why I asked you," the moderator said.
Loomer's opening move was to deflect — not with facts, but with a name drop. She told the conference that she had just spoken to Trump and read out a message she claimed was from the president: "I love India. I love Modi and I love the Indian people."
When pressed further, Loomer said some posts were deleted after her account was locked and added, "I shouldn't have said some of the things that I said... and I apologize if my remarks offended people," while maintaining her criticisms of the H-1B visa program.
But the partial apology only set up the next confrontation.
Rajdeep Sardesai Stands Up From the Audience: 'You Are Brazenly Racist'
The most explosive moment came not from the stage but from the audience. Rajdeep Sardesai — one of India's most recognizable and respected television journalists, a veteran anchor and author who serves as a senior journalist at India Today Group — stood up and confronted Loomer directly.
Sardesai read directly from Loomer's 2024 tweets, including one where she claimed the White House would "smell like curry" if then-Vice President Kamala Harris became president.
Sardesai told Loomer she needed to do more than express regret. "From what I can see, you're brazenly racist and Islamophobic." He said her comments represented "anti-Indianism, worse still Islamophobia, and even worse racism," which he said had "no place in today's world."
Sardesai later posted on X: "My comment to Laura Loomer at end of her session at India Today conclave. #SayNoToRacism #IndiaTodayConclave26."
Loomer Doubles Down: 'Islam Is a Cancer on the World'
Rather than absorbing the criticism and pivoting, Loomer doubled down on her most inflammatory positions — in front of an Indian audience that is approximately 15% Muslim, or roughly 205 million people.
Loomer said she believes "Islam is a cancer on the world" and that she does not "believe that Islamophobia is real." "I believe that it should be illegal in the United States for Muslims to hold office," she said.
She went further, asserting that "everybody who is not a Muslim should really honestly be fearful of this ideology."
On her comments about Kamala Harris, Loomer offered a surprising reinterpretation, claiming they were actually "pro-Indian" because they criticized Harris for allegedly downplaying her Indian heritage during the election campaign. The claim was widely ridiculed — Harris has consistently and publicly embraced both her Black and Indian-American heritage throughout her career.
Loomer's Growing Power in Washington — and Its Limits
What makes this episode more than just a tabloid spectacle is Loomer's genuine proximity to power. Loomer has been granted Pentagon access, and was among the few influencers given a "tip line" and reporting access from within the Pentagon — a policy currently being challenged in federal court by traditional media outlets like the New York Times.
She openly told the India Today Conclave audience she speaks to Trump frequently — saying she had spoken with him "about three times" that week.
Yet her New Delhi appearance exposed the sharp limits of her influence on the world stage. Moderate GOP lawmakers have expressed concern that her "unfiltered" rhetoric could alienate swing voters in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. "Her influence is a double-edge sword," said one GOP strategist speaking anonymously. "She energizes the base, but she also gives the opposition a massive target."
India Today Itself Faces Backlash for Inviting Her
The backlash also began to target the organizers of the event. Social media users criticized India Today and its founder and chairman Aroon Purie for inviting Laura Loomer. One user wrote, "Congratulations @IndiaToday @aroonpurie inviting the racist, Trump Supporter @LauraLoomer for India Today Conclave 2026."
Journalist Mehdi Hasan, the former MSNBC host, wrote on X: "How are Indians OK with this?" Several Indian-American organizations held protests that received millions of views online.
Critics said she deleted posts that were against India ahead of time and asked India Today to think about having someone with a history of "brazenly racist" comments on their platform.
The Broader Context: Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Surging Alongside the Iran War
Loomer represents one of many MAGA-aligned figures who have intensified their attacks on Islam recently. This rhetorical escalation appears to coincide with Trump's military actions in Iran. Shortly after U.S. and Israeli strikes began against Iran, a series of violent attacks occurred in Texas, Virginia, and Michigan that the FBI is investigating as potentially motivated by the conflict.
Senator Tommy Tuberville was accused of Islamophobia earlier this week when he shared an image of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani breaking his Ramadan fast in City Hall alongside an image of the 9/11 terror attacks and wrote "the enemy is inside the gates."
The episode illustrates how the Iran war — now in its 14th day — is inflaming religious tensions far beyond the battlefield, with American politicians and political figures directing increasingly sharp rhetoric at Muslim communities both domestically and abroad.
After the Conclave: No Apology Tour
Following the conference, Loomer showed no signs of moderating her positions. On Saturday afternoon, she shared a video allegedly showing Muslims in India surrounding a Sikh restaurant and demanding they sell halal food.
She also indicated she planned to continue her India trip — visiting cultural sites including the Taj Mahal — apparently untroubled by the firestorm she had just caused.
Key Facts at a Glance
- 👤 Laura Loomer: Age 32, far-right activist, informal Trump adviser, Florida
- 📍 Event: India Today Conclave 2026, Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi
- 📅 Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
- 🎙️ Confronted by: Rajdeep Sardesai, senior journalist, India Today
- 🗑️ Deleted tweets included: "Curry" remark, "third-world invaders," hygiene jokes, IQ posts, "go back to India"
- 😬 Her response: Partial apology — then doubled down on anti-Islam remarks
- 🕌 India's Muslim population: ~205 million (~15% of total)
- 📊 Verdict: Both Indian left AND right united in criticism of her remarks
📡 Sources: Newsweek, The Independent (UK), Mediaite, IBTimes Australia, BritBrief, American Bazaar Online, NewsLaundry, DNP India News — March 14, 2026.
🔄 Last updated: March 14, 2026.
🔖 Tags: Laura Loomer, India Today Conclave, Rajdeep Sardesai, Anti-Indian Tweets, Islamophobia, H1B Visa, Trump Adviser, New Delhi 2026, MAGA, US India Relations
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