The Trump administration is facing backlash from its own MAGA base after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. has approved a Qatari Emiri Air Force presence at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from prominent MAGA figures, who see it as a betrayal of the “America First” agenda.
Laura Loomer, a well-known MAGA activist, said on X, “I have never felt more betrayed by the GOP,” calling the decision to allow a foreign military presence on U.S. soil unacceptable.
“This is a set up for America to be attacked by Islamic savages from Qatar, the biggest funders of Islamic terror in the entire world. So much so, the Saudis and Emiratis find Qatar to be TOXIC. I need to see how much more of my life I am going to dedicate to a party that won’t address the threat of Islam in the West. The betrayal stings. WE ARE LOSING OUR COUNTRY!” Loomer said.
Steve Bannon also weighed in, saying, “There should never be a military base of a foreign power on the sacred soil of America.”
The agreement allows a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to operate from the Idaho base.
The move comes months after President Donald Trump accepted a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar, which had already drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
The announcement comes as the U.S. continues diplomatic efforts to mediate the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Hegseth attempted to clarify the situation in a post on X, emphasizing that the U.S. maintains full control over the existing base, as Newsweek reported.
“Qatar will not have their own base in the United States—nor anything like a base,” he wrote. “We control the existing base, like we do with all partners.”
Despite the clarification, Loomer and others remain furious, claiming the decision will drive MAGA voters away. Loomer said, “I don’t think I’ll be voting in 2026,” and added that no Trump supporter supports a foreign military presence on U.S. soil.
The Idaho base already hosts a presence from Singapore, highlighting the long-standing practice of allied cooperation.
Still, the controversy underscores tensions between the Trump administration’s foreign policy moves and the expectations of its core MAGA supporters.
In response to Hegseth’s clarification, Loomer doubled down on her opposition to the move.
“Nobody wants the funders of HAMAS in America being trained to fly fighter jets on US soil. A jihadist in a suit is still a jihadi. It’s a threat to our national security,” she said.
