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Trump Is Facing a MAGA Backlash for Qatari Air Force Facility Plan

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Trump Is Facing a MAGA Backlash for Qatari Air Force Facility Plan


The Trump Administration is facing backlash from the president’s own supporters following the announcement that a new Qatari air force facility would be built in Idaho.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the plan to build a “Qatar Emiri Air Force facility” at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho. The facility will be paid for by Qatar and will be used by the country to train its pilots to fly F-15 fighter jets, which it is buying from the U.S.

The plan received quick pushback from several high-profile MAGA influencers and proponents of President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. 

Read More: Trump Brokers $96 Billion Boeing Deal in Qatar, Signaling a New Era of Aviation Diplomacy

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Steve Bannon, White House chief strategist during Trump’s first term, told Newsweek that there “should never be a military base of a foreign power on the sacred soil of America.”

The deal also came under fire from MAGA stalwart and self-described Islamaphobe Laura Loomer, who holds considerable influence in the White House and has claimed credit for several hirings and firings of high-level officials in the Trump Administration. 

“Never thought I’d see Republicans give terror financing Muslims from Qatar a MILITARY BASE on US soil so they can murder Americans,” Loomer wrote on X Friday. The deal does not involve giving Qatar a military base, but rather a facility within a U.S. base.

“The Qatari influence on the Trump administration is totally out of control,” Loomer said in a separate post. “It’s inappropriate to let Qatari’s have an Air Force base on US soil.”

Loomer also shared a clip of Trump speaking in 2017 in which he accused Qatar of historically funding terrorism “at a very high level.”

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Loomer has called herself a “proud Islamaphobe” and said 9/11 was an “inside job.” Earlier this year, she successfully campaigned for the Trump Administration to end “lifesaving” medical visas for Palestinians impacted by the war in Gaza.

The deal also drew criticism from conservatives outside of the MAGA base.

Noah Rothman, writer for conservative news organization The National Review, asked, “What’s the strategic rationale for this? Either ours or Qatar’s?”

“You could rattle off all the problems/risks we’re inviting easily. But I have no idea what the steelman case for this would be? I’m sure we don’t need to import any more Qatari covert assets into this country,” he wrote on X. 

Republican political consultant and commentator Mike Madrid said on X: “Joe Biden was criticized for a Chinese balloon flying over our airspace. They’re giving Qatar an entire f’ing air base.” 

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In a clarifying social media post late Friday, Hegseth said that the airbase would still be under U.S. jurisdiction, and that the Qatari air force would not have its own base.

When reached for comment by TIME regarding the conservative pushback, the Department of Defense redirected to Hegseth’s social media post. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Many have noted that the deal with Qatar bears similarities to those the U.S. has made with other countries. The German air force still maintains a tactical training command in Texas after decades in New Mexico, and more than 1,000 Singaporean military troops train in the U.S. each year. Pilots from several other NATO allies also train in the U.S. 

But President Donald Trump’s relationship with Qatar has come under scrutiny in recent months following a string of deals both in and outside of government. 

In April, the Trump family company struck a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar. The next month, Trump unveiled his plan to accept a luxury Boeing jet as a gift from the Qatari government, claiming on Truth Social that the “free” gift would save U.S. money and that “only a FOOL would not accept” the gift.

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That move received blowback from Republicans and Democrats alike. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the move the “kind of thing that even Putin would give a double take,” and Republican lawmakers also aired out national security concerns over the $400 million plane.

“He’s going to turn Air Force One into Bribe Force One,” Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts told TIME in May.

The Qatari deal follows the nation’s role, along with the U.S. and Egypt, as a mediator in peace talks that led to the newly enacted Israel-Hamas peace deal and ceasefire. In accordance with the first phase of the deal, Israel pulled back its forces in the Gaza Strip to agreed-upon lines on Friday, and Hamas is now expected to release the remaining 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. The U.S. plans to send 200 troops to Israel to monitor the deal.

Read More: Israel Pulls Back Troops as Gaza Ceasefire Takes Effect

“No one other than President Trump could have achieved the peace—what 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,” Hegseth said during the announcement of the air base in Idaho.

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Burley deputy says she was mocked at work for breastfeeding, files lawsuit – East Idaho News

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Burley deputy says she was mocked at work for breastfeeding, files lawsuit – East Idaho News


Courtesy KIVI

BURLEY (KIVI) — A woman from Burley says the job she once loved became hostile after she returned from maternity leave. She is now sharing her story exclusively with Idaho News 6 as new data shows a rise in workplace discrimination claims across the state.

Hannah Jones says she has worked as a deputy at the Mini-Cassia County Criminal Justice Center for over three years and enjoyed the job before returning from leave.

“It was humiliating, and it seemed really discrediting,” Jones said.

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Jones said she initially had a positive experience at work.

“I love my job. I have gotten to meet a ton of really cool people,” she said.

She said that quickly changed after she returned from maternity leave, when she began hearing comments about breastfeeding.

“I came back, and it was only almost immediate that I started getting some pretty embarrassing comments about me breastfeeding and me having to go to the bathroom to pump,” Jones said.

Jones said supervisors made repeated comments in front of others.

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“They would make comments about how I was a cow and … they would actually make mooing noises at me as I was walking through the hallways and stuff as well in front of inmates and other agencies,” she said.

She also described a more explicit comment from a supervisor.

“One of my male supervisors claimed that he thought I should have responded to a fight with my ‘titties’ out,” Jones said.

Jones said that when she reported the behavior, she felt it was not taken seriously and that she later experienced retaliation.

“I just felt like it wasn’t taken seriously at all,” she said.

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She said she filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Idaho Human Rights Commission, which she says found in her favor.

Jones has since filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and gender discrimination, detailing the same claims she shared with Idaho News 6.

“I started experiencing what I believe to be retaliation … and that’s the point that it kind of got to be too much,” she said.

Her case reflects a broader trend, according to the Idaho Human Rights Commission.

“In the last year, we’ve seen a doubling of the reports of discrimination,” said Ben Earwicker, administrator for the Idaho Human Rights Commission.

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Earwicker said the increase includes cases involving pregnancy and motherhood.

“So postpartum is protected, breastfeeding … reasonable accommodations for those, including private spaces to breastfeed, including time off as needed,” he said.

He said retaliation is also a common claim.

“Retaliation is a much easier claim to prove because usually there’s temporal proximity where the initial reporting of discrimination occurs followed almost immediately by some kind of retaliatory action,” Earwicker said.

Jones said the experience has changed how she views her career and worries it could discourage other women from entering law enforcement.

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“I feel my heart break for women that are coming into the force, knowing that that’s probably going to happen to them too,” she said.

Jones’ lawsuit is ongoing. The legal firm representing the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.

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Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on April 16, 2026

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The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 16.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 16 drawing

Day: 6-2-0

Night: 9-2-4

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 16 drawing

Day: 3-4-8-7

Night: 6-5-6-7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 16 drawing

09-26-27-35-42

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Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 16 drawing

01-02-31-47-57, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
  • Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • 5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
  • Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Idaho DMV offers new America 250 plate

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Idaho DMV offers new America 250 plate


BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Idaho DMV released a new America 250 license plate. The America 250 plate features a red, white and blue design celebrating the United States’ semiquincentennial in 2026.

The plate is available at county DMV offices and online HERE. Standard vehicle registration fees apply, along with a specialty plate fee that supports the Idaho State Historical Society.

Customers can personalize the America 250 plate for an additional fee, subject to Idaho’s standard personalization guidelines. Special program plates and personalized plates do not receive county designators.

The plate is available for passenger vehicles and motorhomes. Drivers can request the plate at renewal or at any time by visiting their county DMV office or ordering online.

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