The United States is proud of its full sovereignty over its territory, and a symbol of its global dominance is that there are no foreign military bases on domestic soil. Well, until today that is, as Pete Hegseth just casually and proudly unveiled the eye-popping news that he’s permitting Qatar to construct an air force facility in Idaho.
Wait, what?
Yes, you read that right. Hegseth is letting a Middle Eastern power construct a military base in America’s heartland. Still don’t believe me? Here’s the man himself explaining it:
Hegseth: "I'm also proud that today we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho." pic.twitter.com/gGEyoeq7OX
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2025
“I’m also proud that today 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 with pilots to enhance our combined training and increase lethality, operability, it’s just another example of our partnership.”
Hegseth then doffed his cap to “your excellency” sitting next to him and told him, “You can count on us!” I’m sure they can, Pete!
Instant reactions are stunned, with commentators aghast and asking some pointed questions: “Why is a foreign military, from an autocratic regime, being granted a foothold on U.S. soil? Why in Idaho? Who approved this and under what oversight?”
Selling America’s dignity to the highest bidder
Others link this to Qatar’s gift of a $400 million “flying palace” jet to Trump to use as the new Air Force One, concluding that allowing another country to station its fighter jets within U.S. borders must have been the real price:
Did I understood correctly… A Qatari airbase the in America? What is going on? Oh… Wait… Can it be related to the 400 million plane they gave Trump 2 months ago?
— PBois (@PboisImmo) October 10, 2025
It must be underlined how utterly unprecedented this is. Sure, the United States military regularly invites soldiers from key allies to its bases for training (both receiving and giving). But having a foreign power – and an autocratic Islamic one at that – setting up shop in Idaho with their fleet of F-15 fighter jets is truly bonkers.
Expect this to generate some serious headlines over the next few days. I can’t imagine purestrain MAGA acolytes are going to be happy in the slightest. America first? Not if Hegseth has anything to say about it!
