Laura Lumer, a well-known American far-right activist and blogger whose name is often mentioned in the context of her closeness to former US President Donald Trump, has made an unexpected admission. In a recent interview, she stated that she had been under the influence of Russian propaganda for a long time and was unaware of the real facts about the war in Ukraine.
This is reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing the Associated Press agency. Lumer openly spoke about her journey from supporting anti-Ukrainian narratives to understanding the true state of affairs.
"I believed many untrue things"
The blogger admitted that her initial perception of Ukraine was distorted by disinformation. "I realized that Russian propaganda misled me. I believed many untrue things about Ukraine. I used to think it was a country full of Nazis," Lumer stated candidly.
According to her, this process of disinformation began even before the start of the full-scale invasion but intensified later. Lumer noted that at some point, her accounts were blocked on American social networks, which prompted her to seek alternative platforms.
The role of Telegram and Russian media
After the blocks, Lumer began to actively use the Telegram messenger, which belongs to Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov. It was there, she says, that she encountered an even greater volume of disinformation from Russian state and state-affiliated media.
"Russians are very skillful at using people's anger. And I was very angry," the activist explained how her emotions were manipulated. She admits that the change in her views happened slowly and gradually.
Influence on American leaders
The turning point came when Lumer noticed that popular podcasters, such as Tucker Carlson, began to speak out against Donald Trump's rhetoric, while their arguments were increasingly bolstered by Russian sources. This made her wonder who and how influences public opinion in the US.
"I believe that some of our leaders are influenced by propaganda," Lumer stated in a recent comment. She emphasized that she no longer hides her past experience, admitting that she herself was a victim of the information war, but the situation has now changed.
Meeting with Zelenskyy
Earlier, RBK-Ukraine reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Laura Lumer. This meeting caused a wide resonance, as Lumer is considered an influential figure in conservative circles in the US. During the conversation, Zelenskyy told her about how his relationship with Donald Trump developed and when the turning point occurred.
Experts believe that a change in position by media figures like Lumer could influence public opinion in the US and, consequently, Washington's policy towards Ukraine.
