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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced that he would sign a letter approving the establishment of a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility in Idaho.
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon and the Qatari Foreign Ministry by email for comment on Friday afternoon.
Why It Matters
Qatar and the U.S. have engaged in a diplomatic partnership that has seen the Mideast nation play an increasingly vital role as mediator in negotiations, particularly between third-party conflicts like Israel and Hamas. The Qatari delegation has been involved during both the Biden and Trump administrations' efforts to bring an end to the conflict, and U.S. officials have credited the Qataris for their role in securing a peace deal.
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However, the relationship goes beyond simple diplomatic ties: The Qatari government offered a luxury Boeing 747 in May to the U.S., which President Donald Trump accepted following a high-profile visit to the country during his first overseas trip since his re-election, which also included visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
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What To Know
During a joint press conference addressing the finalization of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, Hegseth thanked Qatari officials for their involvement in the process and revealed that the U.S. would increase its partnership with the Mideast nation by creating stronger military ties by building this facility.
"No one other than President Trump could have achieved the peace, which we believe will be a lasting peace, in Gaza, and Qatar played a substantial role from the beginning, working with our folks to make sure that came about, so I want to thank you for that historic peace," Hegseth said.
He added: "I'm also proud that today we're announcing - we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."
"The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality, interoperability - it's just another example of our partnership," Hegseth said.
Hegseth did not specify when construction would begin on the facility or provide any timeline for the establishment.
The announcement has caused an immediate and negative pushback from prominent MAGA figures, who have denounced the decision as going against the America First politics the movement supports.
Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho: What We Know
The Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho is a prominent one for interoperational aspirations between the United States and various international allies: Most prominently, the Singaporean Air Force will train personnel at the base, hosting the Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG aircraft, according to the base's website.
The base hosts three fighter squadrons: The 389th Fighter Squadron Thunderbolts; The 391st Fighter Squadron Tigers; and The Republic of Singapore 428th Fighter Squadron Buccaneers. However, the Singaporean force only uses existing U.S. facilities—it does not have separate facilities of its own.
These three squadrons comprise the "Gunfighter" 366th Fighter Wing of the Air Force, nicknamed for the pilots mounting Gatling gun pods on their planes during the Vietnam War to deal with a lack of firepower on the planes of that era. The Gunfighters have deployed numerous times to Southwest Asia and the Indo-Pacific throughout the 2010s, with additional reorganizations that experiment with innovations and new Air Force concepts.
Is Idaho a Red State?
Idaho for decades has voted Republican, backing the Republican candidate by a clear majority in every presidential election since 1948, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1964 election. The state backed Trump in each of the last three elections, handing him more votes with each election: Idaho cast 59.25 percent of its votes for Trump in 2016, 63.84 percent of its votes in 2020, and 66.87 percent of its votes in 2024.
Since 1981, both of the senators from Idaho have been Republicans: Jim Risch and Mike Crapo serve as the current senators from Idaho, with Crapo the senior senator.
Idaho only has two lawmakers in the House of Representatives, both of whom are Republicans: Mike Simpson has served since 1999, and Russ Fulcher since 2019.
What People Are Saying
A U.S. official told Newsweek: “Facilities Construction and Operational Support for Qatari F-15 Aircraft at Mountain Home Air Force Basewas executed via foreign military sales, will enable the construction and operational integration of an enduring location for Qatari F-15 aircraft at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. The establishment of this facility will provide advanced training opportunities and foster combined operational readiness. The establishment of an enduring location for Qatari F-15 aircraft at Mountain Home Air Force Base provides Qatar with strategic flexibility to operate and sustain their advanced fighter aircraft. It will enable combined training opportunities between Qatar and the United States, fostering stronger defense partnerships and enhancing joint operational capabilities. This effort will increase the lethality of our warfighters and improve interoperability among allied and partner nations.”
President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post earlier this week**, praised the various parties involved in securing the peace deal, writing:** "I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!"
Right-wing independent journalist Laura Loomer wrote on 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."
Trump ally and leading MAGA voice Steve Bannon told Newsweek: "There should never be a military base of a foreign power on the sacred soil of America."
Update 10/10/25, 1:25 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information, context, and comment.
Update 10/10/25, 1:58 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 10/10/25, 3:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional comment.
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