Right-wing activist Laura Loomer blasted the federal government for agreeing to host Qatari fighter jets and pilots at an Air Force base in Idaho, pledging not to vote in 2026 and renouncing her GOP affiliation.
“Never thought I’d see Republicans give terror financing Muslims from Qatar a MILITARY BASE on US soil so they can murder Americans,” she said on Friday. “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.”
She later said her loyalty lies with President Donald Trump, not any political party, which she called “useless.”
Loomer’s comments mark a split in MAGA over the new Qatari agreement, which War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday alongside Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al Thani.
“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,” Hegseth said at a press conference, adding that the United States will “host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increased lethality, interoperability. It’s just another example of our partnership.”
Hegseth later clarified that the agreement does not include a Qatari military base on U.S. soil, “nor anything like a base.”
“We control the existing base, like we do with all partners,” he added.
Notably, the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho already hosts jets of another nation, specifically Singapore. Germany also has a tactical training command at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.
Still, Loomer responded to Hegseth’s clarification by calling the new agreement a national security threat.
“Nobody wants the funders of HAMAS in America being trained to fly fighter jets on US soil. A jihadist in a suit is still a jihadi,” she said on Friday evening.
Loomer has emerged as an outsider in the second Trump administration, commenting on recent hiring decisions as well as agency ones.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner last month, she revealed that Trump is “constantly” seeking her opinion.
“I don’t work for the administration, but … President Trump is always open to feedback … he constantly asks me for my opinion,” Loomer said.
LAURA LOOMER’S INFLUENCE GROWS AS SHE CARVES OUT ROLE AS TRUMP’S OUTSIDE VETTER-IN-CHIEF
It is unclear, however, where her relationship currently stands with the president, or if her dissent toward the Qataris will drive a wedge between them, especially after Qatar donated a plane to the president that will potentially be used as Air Force One.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Loomer for comment but did not receive a response.
Samantha Jo-Roth contributed to this article.
