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In a contentious development that highlights tensions within Republican circles, far-right activist Laura Loomer launched sharp criticism of the Trump administration on Friday over its defense arrangements with Qatar, spreading false claims that the Pentagon was handing over a U.S. military base to the Gulf nation.
The controversy erupted after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the Pentagon, where they announced that Qatar would fund a facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho. The announcement quickly became the subject of misinformation on social media.
“We’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatar Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho,” Hegseth said during the joint appearance with his Qatari counterpart.
According to a U.S. defense official who spoke with Reuters, the facility has been under discussion for several years and is designed to support Qatar’s pilot training program for 12 F-15 fighter jets that the country is purchasing. The planned construction includes aircraft hangars and a squadron operations building for Qatari pilots.
The arrangement mirrors existing agreements with other U.S. allies, including Singapore, whose pilots already train at the Idaho base. Under the terms of the agreement, the facility will be built by local contractors under U.S. military supervision, with Qatar covering the costs.
Shortly after the announcement, Loomer expressed outrage on social media platform X, stating she might not vote in next year’s mid-term elections. “Never thought I’d see Republicans give terror financing Muslims from Qatar a MILITARY BASE on US soil so they can murder Americans,” she wrote, accompanying her post with a 2017 clip of Trump accusing Qatar of funding terrorism “at a very high level.”
The inflammatory claims prompted Hegseth to issue a clarification on X: “To be clear, Qatar will not have their own base in the United States — nor anything like a base. We control the existing base, like we do with all partners.”
Qatar’s embassy spokesperson Ali Al-Ansari also responded to the misinformation, explaining that the arrangement involves “an initial 10-year commitment to construct and maintain a dedicated facility within an existing US air base, intended for advanced training and to enhance interoperability.” He emphasized that this follows the pattern of similar programs the U.S. maintains with other international allies.
The episode underscores the significant role Qatar plays in U.S. security infrastructure in the Middle East. The Gulf nation hosts al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military facility in the region, and has served as a key mediator alongside Egypt in Israel-Hamas negotiations.
Loomer, who describes herself as an “Islamophobe” and has promoted conspiracy theories about the September 11 attacks, has a history of provocative actions, including handcuffing herself to Twitter’s headquarters in 2018 after being banned for hate speech. With 1.8 million followers on X and a weekly program that attracts a substantial audience, Loomer maintains considerable influence among supporters of the Make America Great Again movement.
Her sway within MAGA circles has been evident before. In April, Trump fired U.S. General Timothy Haugh, who was serving as director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command, reportedly after Loomer had called for his removal, according to The New York Times.
The controversy highlights the delicate balance the administration faces between maintaining crucial strategic partnerships in the Middle East and managing the expectations of its political base, some of whom hold deeply skeptical views about U.S. engagement with Muslim-majority countries.
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6 Comments
This is a complex issue, with geopolitical considerations and potential concerns around security and sovereignty. I hope the authorities provide more transparency on the specifics and reasoning behind this plan.
It’s important to separate fact from fiction and have a balanced, informed discussion on the merits of this arrangement.
The criticism from Laura Loomer seems to be based on false claims, as the article notes this facility has been under discussion for years. I’d be interested in hearing more details on how this aligns with the U.S. defense strategy.
While some may be skeptical of the arrangement, it’s important to look at the facts and understand the rationale behind it.
Interesting news about the Pentagon’s plan for a military facility in Idaho funded by Qatar. I’m curious to learn more about the specifics and rationale behind this arrangement.
It seems like this facility is meant to support Qatar’s pilot training program, but I wonder if there are any broader strategic considerations at play.