Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to open U.S. soil to a Qatari air force facility has sparked a wave of conservative backlash—and it’s not just online chatter.
According to The Hill, on Friday, Hegseth announced a formal agreement with Qatari officials to build and operate a Qatar Emiri Air Force training facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, igniting sharp criticism from prominent voices within the MAGA movement and other right-leaning commentators.
The facility will host Qatari pilots training to fly F-15 fighter jets, an arrangement Pentagon leaders say deepens the U.S.-Qatar defense alliance, though many on the right call it an ill-advised concession on American sovereignty.
Facility Announcement Stirs Conservative Backlash
Standing beside Qatari Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Hegseth praised the agreement as a “strengthening” of the U.S.-Qatar partnership during a short briefing at the Pentagon. According to Hegseth, Qatar played a key role in brokering the recent Gaza peace deal, a detail the Defense Secretary presented as a reason for deeper trust in Doha.
But that message hasn’t landed well with many who helped bring the America First movement to the forefront, including conservative firebrand Laura Loomer, who called the development “a betrayal.”
Loomer, Bannon Lead the Opposition
“There isn’t a single Trump supporter who supports allowing Qatar to have a military base on U.S. soil,” Loomer wrote on social media Friday.
Her posts slammed the move as inviting a foreign military—particularly one linked repeatedly to terrorism financing—into America’s backyard. Loomer, who has previously been an avowed Trump defender, even hinted at staying home during the next election cycle because of the decision. Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, echoed similar concerns, calling the base an “affront” to national sovereignty and a “dangerous precedent.”
History of Foreign Training on U.S. Bases
Mountain Home Air Force Base is no stranger to international partnerships. Singapore’s air force already trains there with F-15SG fighter jets. But critics point out the substantial difference between trusted allies like Singapore and a nation such as Qatar, which has long been scrutinized for funding groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Amy Malek, a conservative commentator, accused Qatar of using wealth to buy favor in Washington, saying the country has spent “$100 billion buying influence in the U.S.”
Security Interests or Strategic Mistake?
Supporters of the deal, including Hegseth, argue that the U.S. has much to gain from closer military ties with Qatar, including shared defense training and intelligence collaboration in the Middle East.
Yet those skeptical of Qatar’s intentions view the move not as strategic defense planning but as an open invitation to deeper foreign entanglement and compromised national defense. Malek summed it up bluntly: “We’re not building peace. We’re building a launchpad for the Islamic disaster.”
Past Tensions With Qatar Cast Long Shadows
The timing has also raised eyebrows among critics. Earlier this month, the U.S. took steps to enhance protection for Qatar after an Israeli airstrike killed six in Doha, including a Qatari security officer. Loomer, referencing that context and past controversies, stated that Hegseth “should know how bad of an idea it is to allow Terror financing Qataris who fund HAMAS and the Muslim Brotherhood to have an AIR FORCE BASE ON US SOIL.”
These are not soft accusations. Loomer has repeatedly warned that Doha’s influence does not reflect American interests, and she hasn’t let up, even criticizing President Trump for accepting what she called a $400 million “gift” from Qatar in the form of a luxury Boeing jet.
Idaho Base Becomes Flashpoint in MAGA Circles
Many conservatives cite a simple principle: foreign military forces have no place on American territory, regardless of who they are or how neat the agreement looks on parchment. Bannon was blunt: “There should never be a military base of a foreign power on the sacred soil of America.”
As this deal moves forward, attention will turn not only to Pentagon planners, but to the MAGA faithful—many of whom now feel caught between their loyalty to Trump and their growing skepticism over actions like this.
