The Trump administration has approved a plan to build a Qatari Air Force training facility in Idaho. The decision was announced on Friday, October 10, 2025, by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a meeting at the Pentagon with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
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“Today, we’re announcing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho,” Hegseth said. “The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance combined training and interoperability.”
The news immediately set off alarm bells across Washington and within conservative circles. Lawmakers and analysts warned that allowing a foreign military installation inside the United States could expose sensitive technology and intelligence to outside monitoring. Qatar, while officially a U.S. ally, has long maintained complex relationships with Iran and Turkey—two nations frequently at odds with Washington’s policies.
Trump’s political supporters were quick to voice their anger online. Conservative commentator Laura Loomer wrote on X, “Never thought I’d see Republicans give terror-financing Muslims from Qatar a MILITARY BASE on U.S. soil.” Others accused the administration of betraying its own “America First” message.
Former Obama aide Tommy Vietor also pointed out the contradiction between Trump’s past and present positions. “In 2017, Trump called Qatar funders of terrorism. Now we’re hosting their air force in Idaho?” he wrote.
Military veteran Evaristus Odinikaeze, now an investment banker, said the project reflects how public office and private interests are blurring under Trump. “This deal isn’t about patriotism,” he said. “It’s about power deals and quiet compromises that bypass the people.”
The Mountain Home Air Force Base sits roughly 50 miles southeast of Boise. It already houses joint training programs with Singapore, but this will be the first time Qatar will have a permanent presence there. The Pentagon has not disclosed how many Qatari personnel will be stationed at the facility or how the costs will be shared between the two governments.
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The Idaho agreement follows months of scrutiny over Donald Trump’s growing business and political links with Qatar. In May, Trump accepted a Boeing 747 jet, reportedly worth around $400 million, as a “gift” from the Qatari government. The White House said the plane would be displayed in Trump’s presidential library once his term ends, but ethics experts called it one of the largest foreign gifts ever given to a sitting U.S. president.
Legal scholars noted that the U.S. Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause forbids office holders from accepting any gift or payment “of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” Critics argue that taking possession of a foreign jet violates this clause, even if it is later transferred to a library or museum.
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Soon after the gift, the Trump Organization signed a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar. The project includes beachside villas, an 18-hole golf course, and a clubhouse built by a Saudi Arabian construction firm. It is the first foreign deal by Trump’s family company since his return to office, intensifying concerns about potential conflicts of interest between the White House and his private business empire.
Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov criticized the arrangement on Fox News, saying, “The corruption is so blatant. He takes a private jet, then gives them a military base. How is this in America’s interest?”
Although the White House defended the project as a symbol of U.S.–Qatari cooperation, watchdog groups called for an independent review of any financial transactions linked to the Qatar resort or the new air base. They argue that national policy should not appear to reward foreign governments offering expensive gifts or business deals.
Pentagon Defends Move as Strategic Partnership
At the Pentagon event, Hegseth described the Idaho facility as a continuation of long-standing defense ties. “You have been a core part of what has unfolded in Gaza, a historic moment,” he told Sheikh al-Thani. “We’re grateful for the strong partnership and the way you support our troops at Al Udeid.”
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Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military presence in the Middle East, including the headquarters of U.S. Central Command. Analysts say the new Idaho facility will allow Qatari pilots to train alongside American crews on F-15 aircraft similar to those operated in Qatar.
Defense Department officials have said privately that the partnership is “operational, not political.” They emphasized that the training program will strengthen interoperability with NATO forces and improve pilot safety.
Still, the timing has drawn suspicion. The announcement comes just months after the Trump family secured its Qatari golf deal and accepted the jet. Ethics lawyers say even if the projects are separate, the sequence creates the appearance of a quid pro quo.
The Pentagon has not commented on whether any Qatari funds will help construct or maintain the Idaho facility. Local officials in Boise County say they were informed only days before the announcement. Some residents expressed surprise that foreign air forces would be training so close to home, raising questions about community safety and oversight.
Military journal Stars and Stripes first reported in 2022 that Qatar had expressed interest in joint training at Mountain Home, but the plan was considered “unlikely” at the time. Now, under the Trump administration, the proposal has moved forward with little public debate.
As of this week, construction details remain unclear. The Pentagon has not disclosed the timeline for building the new hangars and facilities or how long Qatari personnel will remain in Idaho. Defense officials say further information will be released once Congress reviews the funding agreement.
