Before Accepting Jet, Trump Called Out Qatar’s Ties To Terrorism

President Donald Trump is astir to judge a jumbo pitchy from a state pinch a history of backing terrorism. The Boeing 747 being talented by Qatar will beryllium utilized arsenic Air Force One, past transferred to nan Trump Presidential Library Foundation, successful a woody that does not encapsulate nan analyzable narration betwixt nan 2 nations. 

When Trump first took agency successful 2017, he called connected Middle Eastern countries, peculiarly those connected nan Arabian Peninsula, to extremity supporting terrorism. “Stop funding, extremity school hate, and extremity nan killing,” Trump stated from nan Rose Garden successful June 2017. 

Trump past called retired Qatar by name. “The federation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of coercion astatine a very precocious level,” Trump said. “Do we return nan easy road, aliases do we yet return a difficult but basal action? We person to extremity nan backing of terrorism.” 

Which organizations did Qatar fund? 

Qatar and individuals domiciled successful nan state helped finance immoderate of nan world’s astir notorious violent organizations, including Hezbollah, al-Qaida, nan Nusrah Front and ISIS. 

A 2018 U.K. Parliament report stated, “Qatar has had a history of either paying aliases helping facilitate ransom payments to Al Nusra pinch astatine slightest 1 root stating that ‘Kidnappings of civilians and, connected immoderate occasions, subject unit for ransom person been a important root of income.’” 

Trump said contempt being urged, Qatar wasn’t doing capable to trim its ties to terrorism.  

“For Qatar, we want you backmost among nan unity of responsible nations,” nan president said astatine nan time.  “We inquire Qatar, and different nations successful nan region to do much and do it faster.”

Has Qatar changed? 

A period aft making that statement, Qatar signed an statement pinch nan United States to combat nan financing of terrorism. The state created restrictions connected nan overseas activities of charities successful nan federation that had a manus successful nan financing. 

Qatar facilitated U.S. subject operations successful nan region and hosts astir 6,500 U.S. work members astatine subject installations. One of U.S. Central Command’s largest and astir important aerial bases is successful Qatar. 

A Department of Justice ineligible advisor has been successful nan federation since 2018, helping pinch counterterrorism efforts and expanding prosecutorial capacity. 

Qatar has besides played a cardinal domiciled successful peace talks betwixt Israel and Hamas. The state hosts a Hamas governmental office, which is seen arsenic some enabling a speech and providing support to nan organization. 

Now, successful 2025, nan president says Qatar is making a “gesture of bully faith” by donating a level to nan United States Defense Department. But thing he’s said has eased nan concerns of those who deliberation accepting nan level is simply a mistake, unethical aliases outright illegal.