Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an “Important clarification” on Friday after enraging many in MAGA with the claim that Qatar, which gifted President Donald Trump a $400 million luxury jet earlier this year, will get its own airbase on American soil.
“The U.S. military has a long-standing partnership w/ Qatar, including today’s announced cooperation w/ F-15QA aircraft,” he clarified on X. “However, to be clear, Qatar will not have their own base in the United States—nor anything like it.”
Hegseth continued, “We control the existing base, like we do with all partners.”
Critics on social media were quick to note that Hegseth announced the complete opposite during a press conference at the Pentagon earlier that day, however, while seated next to Qatar’s Minister of Defense, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
“I’m also proud that today we’re announcing we’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho,” said Hegseth at the time. “The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots.”
Hegseth added at the time that this will “enhance our combined training, increase lethality” and “interoperability” between nations. Longtime Trump ally Laura Loomer expressed outrage over Qatar being a majority Muslim nation with a spotty track record.
While numerous other conservative voices decried the apparent partnership for allowing any foreign nation to host their jets on U.S. soil, different countries have long had their military aircraft stationed in America as part of longstanding training agreements with the U.S.
Many critics appeared most frustrated at Hegseth’s inability to issue a consistent message.
“But that’s not what you said there,” wrote one user on X who shared footage of Hegseth’s initial claim, with another person asking: “So they will not have a base, but they will have a base? So they’ll have a base but the US will be guarding it is basically what you’re saying.”
Andrew Harnik/Pool/Associated Press
“Seriously, this admin REALLY needs to make sure they have their statements ready before speaking,” wrote a third user. “It’s almost continual corrections, retractions, updates, etc. What you are saying here is materially different than what was stated during the meeting.”
Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Mich.) also reacted with a clip of Hegseth’s initial claim: “Roll tape.”
Trump notably granted Qatar a NATO-like defense guarantee last month, promising the oil-rich autocracy protection from the U.S. military in case of an attack. The executive order came to light quietly in a White House press release.
More brutal criticism on social media came Hegseth’s way.
