Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a clarification on Friday after his announcement of a Qatari air force facility on U.S. soil drew immediate and widespread criticism, particularly from conservative voices.
Speaking alongside Qatar’s Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Secretary Hegseth announced a “letter of acceptance in building a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.”
The news quickly sparked a conservative outcry, with critics expressing concern over national security and the presence of a foreign military facility.
READ: Decorated Veteran Says Generals, Admirals Who Can’t Back Pete Hegseth Should ‘Get The Hell Out’
Trump-ally Laura Loomer was among the most prominent critics, calling the plan “an abomination” and stating, “Nobody wants the funders of HAMAS in America being trained to fly fighter jets on US soil.”
In response to the mounting criticism, Hegseth posted an “important clarification” on X later the same day.
“The U.S. military has a long-standing partnership w/ Qatar, including today’s announced cooperation w/ F-15QA aircraft. However, 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,” Hegseth wrote.
Despite the Defense Secretary’s explanation, conservative opposition persisted. Loomer doubled down on her stance, calling the plan a “threat to our national security” and suggesting she would not vote in 2026 over the issue.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon also condemned the move, telling Newsweek that “There should never be a military base of a foreign power on the sacred soil of America.” The Idaho Freedom Foundation echoed these concerns, calling the decision an “unacceptable overreach” given that the foreign nationals’ “loyalties don’t align with our own national and state interests.”
The Qatari embassy confirmed that the training facility is part of a 10-year commitment intended to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Qatari air forces. The embassy also emphasized that the project is expected to create American jobs and support broader U.S.-Qatari military cooperation.
The facility, which will be located at Mountain Home Air Force Base, home to the 366th Fighter Wing, is expected to accommodate 12 Qatari F-15 jets and approximately 300 personnel. U.S. military bases have a precedent of hosting foreign military personnel for training; for example, Singapore has trained its pilots at the Idaho base since 1998.
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