Trump Grants Qatar A Security Guarantee, Days After Israeli Strike On Hamas
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 29 guaranteeing U.S. protection for Qatar in the event of an attack, describing the partnership as an “enduring alliance.”
The order came just three weeks after Israel killed Hamas leaders inside a building in Doha, Qatar’s capital, in a strike that drew condemnation from Trump. The president’s move signals assurance to the Arab state following the incident. The executive order was signed the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Trump at the White House, where Netanyahu also called Qatar’s prime minister to apologize for the precision strike.
A White House official told The Daily Wire, “As the President stated, he has assured Qatar that attacks like the recent one will not happen again on their soil. On Monday, President Trump hosted a historic trilateral phone call between the Prime Ministers of Qatar and Israel, which helped to put Israel-Qatar relations on a positive track.”
The order states that any armed attack on Qatar’s territory, sovereignty, or infrastructure would be treated as a threat to U.S. security. “In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability,” it reads.
Trump also emphasized Qatar’s importance to the U.S. military, noting it hosts the largest American base in the Middle East. The order praised Qatar for enabling “critical security operations” and serving as a mediator in regional conflicts.
Qatar has backed Trump’s 20-point peace framework for Gaza, pressing Hamas to accept the terms. “We and Egypt explained to Hamas during yesterday’s meeting that our main goal is stopping the war. Trump’s plan achieves the main goal of ending the war, though some issues in it need clarification and negotiation,” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said.
But Qatar’s role in the region remains controversial. The country has harbored Hamas leaders, been accused of sheltering a 9/11 mastermind, and funneled billions into U.S. universities while running Al Jazeera, often accused of spreading anti-American propaganda.
The security pledge drew sharp backlash from Trump allies like Mark Levin and Laura Loomer. Levin asked, “If the leadership of Hamas in Qatar is killed by Israel, are we going to war with Israel? Wouldn’t it have been better to condition any military defense of Qatar on some basic requirements?” Loomer argued, “What about assuring our own safety from Qatar? Every single day, Qatar floods our country with billions of $ of funding for radical left, communist, & Islamist causes on college campuses and major institutions. Qatar also financed Iran before they tried to assassinate Trump.”
During his second term, Trump has built closer ties with Qatar, even visiting in May and accepting a 747 jet gifted to the U.S. by the Qatari government. Trump has said he hopes to use the plane in place of Air Force One.