The Trump administration is facing fierce criticism from within its own political base following the announcement that Qatar will fund and operate a new air force training facility at a U.S. Air Force base in Idaho.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Friday that a “Qatar Emiri Air Force facility” will be built at Mountain Home Air Base, where Qatari pilots will train on F-15 fighter jets purchased from the United States. While the facility will be financed by Qatar, Hegseth stressed that it will remain under full U.S. jurisdiction.
Despite those assurances, the plan drew immediate outrage from prominent figures in President Donald Trump’s “America First” movement, who view the project as a violation of national sovereignty.
“There should never be a military base of a foreign power on the sacred soil of America,” former White House strategist Steve Bannon told Newsweek.
Right-wing commentator Laura Loomer — a vocal supporter of Trump known for her anti-Islamic rhetoric — went further, accusing the administration of “handing terror-financing Muslims from Qatar a military base on U.S. soil.” Loomer, who has previously taken credit for influencing White House personnel decisions, claimed the decision reflected “Qatari influence out of control.”
Though the Pentagon clarified that the facility would operate within an existing U.S. base and not serve as an independent Qatari outpost, Loomer continued to criticize the plan on social media, citing Trump’s own 2017 remarks that accused Qatar of “funding terrorism at a very high level.”
Criticism extended beyond MAGA circles. National Review columnist Noah Rothman questioned the strategic rationale behind the deal, writing, “What’s the steelman case for this? I’m sure we don’t need to import any more Qatari covert assets into this country.” Republican strategist Mike Madrid mocked the move, comparing it to previous outrage over a Chinese balloon entering U.S. airspace, saying, “They’re giving Qatar an entire air base.”
In a social media post late Friday, Hegseth sought to tamp down the controversy, emphasizing that “the base remains under U.S. control” and that “no foreign military will have sovereign territory on American soil.” The Pentagon referred reporters to Hegseth’s post, while the White House declined to comment.
The uproar comes as Trump’s ties to Qatar face heightened scrutiny following a series of business and diplomatic dealings. Earlier this year, the Trump Organization announced plans to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, followed by Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million Qatari-funded Boeing jet to replace Air Force One — a move that drew bipartisan criticism.
Despite the backlash, Hegseth defended the arrangement, noting Qatar’s recent role as a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. “No one other than President Trump could have achieved peace in Gaza,” he said. “Qatar played a substantial role from the beginning.”