During her visit to Ukraine, Trump ally Laura Lumer publicly reversed her stance, admitting that she had received considerable misinformation regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. She stated that Russian propaganda influenced right-wing American public opinion and led her to misjudge Ukraine over a long period.

Changing his tune on the eve of the meeting

In an interview in Kyiv, Lumer said she had previously believed many misconceptions about Ukraine, including narratives portraying it as a "Nazi state." She stated that her recent trip to the vicinity of the front lines in eastern Ukraine has prompted her to re-examine these claims.

She also stated that she had spoken with Trump by phone after interviewing Ukrainian President Zelensky and expected to meet with him again upon returning home. The report mentioned that Trump and Zelensky planned to meet in Washington next week, and the US Congress was also discussing new sanctions against Russia.

Targeting Russian propaganda and podcasts

Lumer stated that Russia is adept at exploiting domestic anger in the United States to amplify narratives and influence conservative audiences. She said her change of heart didn't happen overnight, but rather a gradual process of developing doubts after seeing the statements of certain prominent podcast figures being amplified through Russian channels.

She called this kind of disinformation campaign a "national security threat." In her view, information warfare could be more destructive than traditional military conflict, and she called on the Trump administration to take Russian propaganda, foreign interference, and influence operations more seriously.

• Lumer stated that he did not receive any funding from the Ukrainian government for this trip.
• She said she was in an air-raid shelter when Kyiv was under missile attack.
• She believes her statement has sparked discussion among Trump supporters.

Ukraine warmly received them

The report indicates that Ukraine clearly hopes to leverage Lumer's influence within the Trump camp. In addition to interviewing Zelensky, she met with several Ukrainian officials and visited sites related to the Kyiv cave monasteries previously attacked by Russia.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture expressed hope that what Lumer witnessed would influence more people after her return to the United States and improve relations between Ukraine and the Ukrainian government.

However, Lumer's shift in stance within the United States has also sparked confusion and skepticism. Although she holds no official position, she maintains close ties with Trump, has advised him on national security personnel matters in the past, and is considered to wield considerable influence.