Donald Trump reportedly directed his aides last year to hire Laura Loomer for his 2024 campaign operation. The backlash was fierce and immediate — even among Republicans — and the former president backed off, rescinding the directions he’d given to his team.

But just this week, it appeared that the Trump-Loomer partnership wasn’t over, so much as it was delayed.

Loomer attended the presidential debate this week, even appearing backstage with the GOP candidate ahead of the event, and she traveled on the Republican nominee’s plane. A day later, Trump attended a Sept. 11 remembrance and brought Loomer along — despite the fact the radical activist has pushed false conspiracy theories about the terrorist attacks having been “an inside job.”

It was against this backdrop that NBC News reported:

The former president dismissed concerns about his close relationship with far-right activist Laura Loomer during a news conference today. “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. … She’s a free spirit.”

Much of this resembled the comments Trump made about the QAnon delusion around this time four years ago.

As part of the same exchange, the Republican told a reporter, “I’m not sure why you asked that question.”

Perhaps I can help the former president understand why this is a relevant line of inquiry.

As we’ve discussed, Loomer is a right-wing activist, a radical conspiracy theorist, and a failed Republican congressional candidate who has described herself as “pro-white nationalism.” More recently, as my MSNBC colleague Ja’han Jones noted, Loomer “has used her platform to lob overtly racist and sexist attacks at Kamala Harris.”

After Trump brought the 9/11 truther to a 9/11 commemoration, Democrats struggled to contain their disgust, but they weren’t alone.

“Laura Loomer is a crazy conspiracy theorist who regularly utters disgusting garbage intended to divide Republicans,” Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote online. “A DNC plant couldn’t do a better job than she is doing to hurt President Trump’s chances of winning re-election. Enough.”

A day earlier, a fellow GOP senator, South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, said, “The history of statements by Ms. Loomer are beyond disturbing. I hope this problem gets resolved. I think we should be talking about things that people are concerned about, and this issue, I think, doesn’t help the cause.”

Another Senate Republican told NBC News said Trump is “often drawn to people who like and promote him. … It’s really dumb.”

The same NBC News report went on to note, “Loomer’s return to Trump’s side is pitting key figures in his coalition against one another. … Moreover, her presence reflects Trump’s loss of faith in his campaign aides and their concomitant fear of upsetting him in a time of crisis, according to people familiar with the situation.”

Why was Trump asked about Loomer? This really isn’t that complicated: With 52 days remaining before Election Day, the GOP nominee and much of his party are feuding over his partnership with a “pro-white nationalism” activist. Of course he’s going to be asked about this.

As this slow-moving debacle continues, there’s another angle to keep in mind. I’ve seen some reports that Republican officials feel anxiety about Loomer whispering dangerous ideas in the former president’s ear.

Everyone should be clear about the circumstances: We’re not talking about a poor, unsuspecting candidate who somehow started hanging out with an unsavory crowd, leading him astray. Trump has demonstrated an unnerving affection for racist conspiracy theories and racist conspiracy theorists, as well as radical sycophants who are mindful of his fragile, child-like ego.

This isn’t a mess in which Loomer somehow finagled her way into Team Trump; this is a mess in which Trump opened the door for her and provided the extremist a seat at the table.