Donald Trump releases bizarre statement moments after announcing new top White House hire
By Stephen M. Lepore
Daily Mail
Jan 3, 2025
Donald Trump appeared less than convinced by his new foreign policy hire in a new statement saying that 'these things don't usually work out' a month after Laura Loomer called her 'a snake.'
The president-elect announced that Morgan Ortagus was being named Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Middle East Peace on Friday.
Ortagus, a former Fox News contributor and State Department spokeswoman, was previously endorsed by Trump when she ran for a Congressional seat in Tennessee in 2022.
However, Trump appears less than convinced by the hire, saying that Ortagus 'fought me for three years, but hopefully has learned her lesson.'
'These things usually don’t work out, but she has strong Republican support, and I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for them. Let’s see what happens,' suggesting he was appeasing the party by hiring her to serve under Steven Witkoff.
Trump added: 'She will hopefully be an asset to Steve, a great leader and talent, as we seek to bring calm and prosperity to a very troubled region. I expect great results, and soon!'
Despite having worked for him in his first term and having Trump's endorsement for Congress, Ortagus appears to have some skepticism from the MAGA base.
Right-wing influencer and Trump associate Laura Loomer claimed last month in an online post she has 'receipts' on Ortagus, who she compared to a 'snake' who should be prevented from joining the incoming administration.
Donald Trump appeared less than convinced by Morgan Ortagus, his new foreign policy hire, in a new statement saying that 'these things don't usually work out'
The conspiracy theoriest and provocateur, who travelled with Trump during the campaign before reportedly being kept off his plane, engaged after Ortagus, a former Fox News contributor and State Department spokeswoman, posted an image of herself with Kash Patel, Trump's controversial nominee to be FBI Director.
The association would be a way for someone in Trump's circle to establish bonafides with the 'Deep State' warrior whose coming nomination sent shockwaves through D.C.
To counter it, Loomer posted an image of Ortagus in a Jeb Bush T-shirt and one appearing with former Trump rival Nikki Haley at an event for her national security consulting firm – snaps apparently meant to paint her as a RINO, an endnagered species in Trump World.
Then, she called Ortagus a 'snake' and suggested she wasn't a true MAGA adherent.
'I love Kash Patel. He has always been a big supporter of the J6 patriots and even raised money for them. Morgan Ortagus is a snake who is disliked by all of her colleagues at the State Department and she is a traitor to Trump,' Loomer wrote, referencing people who stormed the Capitol.
Then, addressing Patel, she claimed to have 'receipts so you can protect yourself from this snake.'
Loomer said Ortagus and her business partners 'all worked against Trump in case she is telling you otherwise,' she advised.
She said Ortagus was hoping to become Deputy Secretary of Defense, a powerful post.
Trump appears less than convinced by the hire, saying that Ortagus 'fought me for three years, but hopefully has learned her lesson'
Ortagus, a former Fox News contributor and State Department spokeswoman, was previously endorsed by Trump when she ran for a Congressional seat in Tennessee in 2022
Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is under fire after being accused of sexual assault and taking part in drunken strip club escapades.
'She is hoping she can become the Deputy Secretary of Defense after Trump named Rep. Elise Stefanik' was designated as his pick to be U.S. ambassador to the UN 'instead of Morgan', she wrote.
'I think we have all had enough of Morgan’s many years of social climbing in MAGA at the State Department,' she told her 1.3 million followers on X.
Then her critique to a sharp turn toward personal attacks based on religion, saying her 'twin sister married a Muslim man' and that she 'divorced her first husband and married a rich, politically connected Jew in DC and had her wedding officiated by the ultra- liberal SCOTUS justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.'
Reached by DailyMail.com, Ortagus had only a brief response. 'I’m at expeditionary combat training,' said the Navy reservist. She said she had not heard about the post and had to go.
Multiple figures in Trump's orbit have dismissed Loomer. But Trump defended her in September after she accompanied him to Sept. 11th ceremonies despite pushing a bizarre conspiracy theory that the attacks were an 'inside job.'
'Laura has been a supporter of mine. Just like a lot of people are supporters, and she’s been a supporter of mine. She speaks very positively of the campaign. I’m not sure why you asked that question,' Trump said in California when pressed on the relationship.
In the post that drew Loomer's wrath, Ortagus wrote: 'A beautiful Sunday lunch with 45/47 and the next @FBI Director my friend kash_patel.' She posted an image of herself with Trump the day before the elections.
Laura Loomer (pictured with Trump) compared former State Department official Morgan Ortagus to a 'snake' after she posted an image of herself with Kash Patel
Loomer quoted from the song 'the Snake,' which Trump has read at rallies while discussing immigration
In 2022, despite Trump's endorsement, Ortagus was booted from the ballot in Tennessee after the local GOP voted to remove her because she had only just moved to the state.
'President Donald Trump believes I'm the best person to fight for his America First agenda and Middle Tennessee in Congress, and I'm working hard to ensure that my fellow Tennesseans, including TNGOP SEC members, understand why,' Ortagus said in a statement on the decision to remove her.
'As I have said all along, I believe that voters in Middle Tennessee should pick their representative — not establishment party insiders,' she continued. 'Our team is evaluating the options before us.'
The vote came after the GOP-controlled state legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill that requires congressional candidates to live in Tennessee for three years to qualify to run on primary ballots.
In late January 2022, the ex-president sent out his endorsement email for Ortagus from his Save America PAC account.
'I am told the very strong and impressive Morgan Ortagus is exploring a run for Congress in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District,' Trump wrote at the time. 'I couldn't be happier because she's an absolute warrior for America First and MAGA!'
'She won't bow to the Woke Mob or the Leftist LameStream Media,' he added.
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