Is ambition a curse? Donald Trump’s supporter Laura Loomer seems to be getting ever closer to him — and is being compared to one of Shakespeare’s most infamous characters.
Rumours whirl over Trump Lady Macbeth
Palace intrigue: Laura Loomer, above, has furiously denied having an affair with Trump after their cosy relationship sparked a meltdown among political power brokers. Glossary
Donald Trump - An American politician, media personality, and businessman serving as the 47th president of the United States since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Shakespeare - An English playwright and poet who is often called the greatest writer in the English language.
Conspiracy theories - Theories that explain world events by blaming shady groups of powerful people operating in secret. Some conspiracy theories have a basis in fact, but many more of them are completely invented. What is more, they often play on dangerous prejudices such as antisemitism. It's worth being especially cautious and critical when you come across accounts that ascribe enormous agency to small and secretive groups.
Kamala Harris - US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate. If elected, she will be the first female vice president of the USA.
White House - The official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains.
Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.
Senator - A politician who has been elected to a body called a Senate. In the US, one of the two houses of Congress is the Senate. Ancient Rome also had a senate and senators.
Sophisticated - For example, artificial intelligence can now be programmed to teach itself - suggesting robots could develop many of the qualities that make us human.