A storm of anger has erupted within President Donald Trump’s own MAGA base after the administration approved plans for a new Qatari Air Force training facility in Idaho. The initiative, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, will allow Qatari pilots to train at Mountain Home Air Force Base under U.S. oversight, but the move has provoked fierce backlash from far-right allies accusing Trump of betraying his “America First” principles.
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Plan for Qatari Facility Unveiled
Speaking alongside Qatar’s Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the agreement to establish a “Qatar Emiri Air Force facility” at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Qatar will fund the construction and use the facility to train pilots on F-15 fighter jets purchased from the United States. Hegseth described the collaboration as a continuation of long-standing military partnerships, noting that “the U.S. military has a long-standing partnership w/ Qatar, including today’s announced cooperation with/ F-15QA aircraft.”
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MAGA Allies Turn Against Trump
Almost immediately after the announcement, several MAGA influencers and conservative hardliners condemned the decision. Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon told Newsweek, “There should never be a military base of a foreign power on the sacred soil of America.” Far-right activist Laura Loomer, a prominent Trump ally, called the move “an abomination,” accusing the administration of allowing “terror financing Muslims from Qatar a MILITARY BASE on US soil so they can murder Americans.” Loomer vowed not to vote in 2026, declaring, “I cannot in good conscience make any excuses for the harboring of jihadis.”
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Hegseth Issues Clarification
Facing mounting outrage, Hegseth posted an “important clarification” on X, insisting that Qatar would not control a base on U.S. soil. “To be clear, Qatar will not have its own base in the United States—nor anything like a base. We control the existing base, like we do with all partners,” he wrote. Despite the clarification, Loomer doubled down, arguing, “A jihadist in a suit is still a jihadi. It’s a threat to our national security.”
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Critics Question Strategic Motive
Criticism extended beyond the MAGA faction. Conservative columnist Noah Rothman questioned the move, asking, “What’s the strategic rationale for this? Either ours or Qatar’s?” Republican strategist Mike Madrid drew comparisons to earlier controversies, saying, “Joe Biden was criticized for a Chinese balloon flying over our airspace. They’re giving Qatar an entire f’ing air base.” The Idaho Freedom Foundation also denounced the decision, calling it “a completely unacceptable overreach” that jeopardizes national and state interests.
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Qatar’s Response and Commitment
In response to the uproar, the Qatari embassy confirmed that the training program is part of a decade-long defense partnership with the U.S. The project, officials said, will create American jobs and enhance cooperation between both nations’ air forces. The facility will accommodate 12 Qatari F-15 jets and around 300 personnel. Qatar described the initiative as key to strengthening interoperability and maintaining regional security partnerships, echoing existing arrangements the U.S. has with allies like Germany and Singapore.
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Trump’s Growing Ties with Qatar
The controversy comes amid increasing scrutiny over Trump’s close relationship with Qatar. Earlier this year, the Trump family business struck a deal to build a luxury golf resort in the Gulf nation. Soon after, Qatar gifted Trump a $400 million Boeing jet, which he said would “eventually go to his presidential library.” The gesture triggered bipartisan criticism, with Senator Ed Markey remarking, “He’s going to turn Air Force One into Bribe Force One.” Despite the criticism, Trump praised Qatar’s cooperation in the recent Gaza ceasefire, calling the nation “a substantial partner in achieving peace.”
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Mounting Political Fallout
The backlash underscores a growing divide between Trump’s administration and parts of his MAGA base. Figures like Loomer and Bannon, once among his fiercest defenders, now accuse him of hypocrisy and national security negligence. Even as Hegseth insists that the deal mirrors other international training partnerships, critics argue that allowing Qatari personnel to train on U.S. soil crosses a symbolic line for Trump’s “America First” brand. The White House has so far declined to issue an official comment.