Accuses Qatar of funding terrorism 'at a very high level' despite major U.S. military base there

At a press conference with Romania's president, Trump declared that Qatar has 'historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level' and claimed credit for Gulf nations confronting Qatar. The accusation came during a diplomatic crisis where Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations had cut ties with Qatar. Trump's statement directly contradicted Secretary of State Tillerson, who had called for easing the blockade just an hour earlier. The attack on Qatar was particularly reckless given that Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East with over 10,000 American troops. Trump appeared to be taking credit for a Saudi-led action that blindsided U.S. officials and undermined American diplomacy.

"The nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level." — Press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, June 9, 2017