When U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday morning that the federal government had reached an agreement with Qatar to build a facility at an Air Force base in Idaho, social media posts

A minor MAGA Republican uproar last week over news that the U.S. would host Qatari pilots at a U.S. military base in Idaho was not caused by the Pentagon’s misleading phrasing for the facility

The Trump administration’s move to host Qatari pilots in Idaho sparked outrage among MAGA supporters, including Laura Loomer. Defense Secretary Hegseth issued clarification amidst the backlash, saying Qatar won’t have a US base but will use a US-controlled facility.

Speaking alongside Qatar’s Minister of Defense Friday, Hegseth announced deal to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho

Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher addresses concerns regarding the new Qatari military partnership at Mountain Home Air Force Base, citing a lack of congressional notification. ✈️

The United States will allow Qatar to build a military facility in Idaho, hosting Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots for joint training with U.S. troops.

When U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday morning that the federal government had reached an agreement with Qatar to build a facility at an Air Force base in Idaho

Qatar, a Persian Gulf nation with little airspace of its own, has long cultivated ties with the U.S. military. Its Al Udeid Air Base serves as a platform for American warplanes in the Middle East and hosts the U.S.’s air war command center for the region. Qatar also served as an important hub when the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan.