Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an “Important clarification” on Friday after enraging many in MAGA with the declare that Qatar, which gifted President Donald Trump a $400 million luxurious jet earlier this 12 months, will get its personal 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 had been fast to notice that Hegseth introduced the exact opposite throughout a press convention on the Pentagon earlier that day, nonetheless, whereas seated subsequent to Qatar’s Minister of Protection, 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,” mentioned Hegseth on the time. “The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots.”
Hegseth added on the time that this can “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 monitor report.
Whereas quite a few different conservative voices decried the obvious partnership for permitting any overseas nation to host their jets on U.S. soil, completely different nations have lengthy had their army plane stationed in America as a part of longstanding coaching agreements with the U.S.
Many critics appeared most pissed off at Hegseth’s incapability to problem a constant message.
“But that’s not what you said there,” wrote one consumer on X who shared footage of Hegseth’s preliminary declare, with one other individual 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.”
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“Seriously, this admin REALLY needs to make sure they have their statements ready before speaking,” wrote a 3rd consumer. “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.) additionally reacted with a clip of Hegseth’s preliminary declare: “Roll tape.”
Trump notably granted Qatar a NATO-like protection assure final month, promising the oil-rich autocracy safety from the U.S. army in case of an assault. The chief order got here to mild quietly in a White Home press launch.
Extra brutal criticism on social media got here Hegseth’s method.
