The Vice President, Vance, addressed the minor uproar among some MAGA Republicans regarding the recent announcement that the U.S. would host Qatari pilots at a military base in Idaho. He suggested that the confusion stemmed from “misinformation” rather than misleading statements about the Pentagon.
On Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the U.S. plans to “sign a letter of acceptance to build the Qatar Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base” in Idaho, which will include Qatari F-15 fighters and pilots.
This news quickly ignited backlash from influential figures within the MAGA base, who alleged that the Trump administration was essentially endorsing the establishment of a Qatari military base in the United States. A spokesperson later clarified that there would not be a separate base; instead, Qatar is committed to creating a specific training facility on the existing U.S. air base for a duration of ten years.
Vance appeared on Fox News Sunday morning and labeled the situation a “hoax.” He remarked that it was largely a myth and emphasized ongoing relationships with partner nations, where their pilots might occasionally train at U.S. bases. “There is no Qatari base on U.S. soil,” he asserted, insisting that foreign countries would not be allowed to establish bases in America.
Among those reacting strongly was Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and ally of Trump, who expressed feeling “betrayed” by the news. She stated on social media that no foreign military should have a base in the U.S., particularly those from Muslim-majority countries.
Loomer further elaborated, “I never thought Republicans would allow Qatar, which funds terrorism, to have bases here.” She mentioned her uncertainty about voting in the 2026 elections, indicating her disillusionment.
This isn’t the first time Loomer has criticized Trump; she previously condemned him for accepting a high-end Boeing from the Qatari government, often expressing negative views toward Qatar and similar nations.
The Trump administration has historically strengthened ties with Qatar, citing its role in facilitating a Gaza peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. Just earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order aimed at enhancing U.S. support for Qatar following an incident that resulted in casualties, including a Qatari security official, due to an Israeli airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha.
At the Pentagon on Friday, alongside Qatari Defense Minister Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Hegseth underscored the housing agreement for Qatari pilots in Idaho as evidence of the strong partnership between Washington and Doha. “We are grateful for the support to our troops in al-Udeid, Your Excellency,” Hegseth stated, referring to the significant U.S. military base in Qatar.
