A man wearing a MAGA hat stands as people attend a vigil at Orem City Center Park, after U.S. right-wing activist and commentator, Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 11, 2025. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

Conservative hard‑liners erupted in outrage Friday after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greenlit plans for a Qatari air force facility on U.S. soil, accusing the administration of “enabling foreign control” on American bases and doubling down on sovereignty grievances.

Hegseth announced Friday morning that the U.S. has signed a “letter of acceptance” to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, which will host Qatari F‑15 jets and pilots for joint training.

The move, made amid diplomatic praise for Qatar’s role in mediating a Gaza ceasefire, formalizes deeper military cooperation — though many details, including cost, duration, and security protocols, remain undisclosed.

Since the announcement, prominent activists aligned with President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have criticized the decision.

MAGA influencer Laura Loomer wrote on the social platform X: "Never thought I’d see Republicans give terror financing Muslims from Qatar a MILITARY BASE on US soil so they can murder Americans. I don’t think I’ll be voting in 2026. I cannot in good conscience make any excuses for the harboring of jihadis. This is where I draw the line."

In another post, she said, "There isn’t a single Trump supporter who supports allowing Qatar to have a military base on US soil. I don’t know who told President Trump this was a good idea, but it has made people not want to vote. This is the type of thing I would expect from a President Ilhan Omar."

Conservative writer Phil Holloway wrote: "I did not vote for having foreign military bases in Idaho."

Conservative commentator Josh Hammer wrote: "Qatar is not our friend."

"I did NOT vote for this," said MAGA influencer Ann Vandersteel.

Journalist Glenn Greenwald noted: "The gap between how the pro-Israel MAGA faction talks about Qatar, and Trump's treatment of Qatar, could not be wider. That faction constantly depicts Qatar as an evil terror regime infiltrating US institutions. Meanwhile, Trump loves Qatar, heaps praise on it, and now this:"

Pro-Trump podcaster Tim Pool wrote: "The Qataris control our government and have infiltrated our media Thay proves it." [sic]

Podcaster Dave Rubin wrote: "Imagine what the Woke Right crew would be saying if this was Israel. Instead, crickets, of course…"