🚨 BREAKING: @TheFP just published one of the most explosive investigative reports of the year.
It exposes how Qatar, a tiny Gulf dictatorship and Hamas' #1 benefactor, has spent nearly $100 billion trying to buy influence in the U.S.
This is the result.
A 🧵
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It exposes how Qatar, a tiny Gulf dictatorship and Hamas' #1 benefactor, has spent nearly $100 billion trying to buy influence in the U.S.
This is the result.
A 🧵
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@bariweiss @FrannieBlock Qatar has spent more money shaping American opinion and policy than almost any other foreign power.
This type of influence is practically unheard of.
Not just in politics, but in academia, media, think tanks, real estate, lobbying, and defense.
Let's start from the top.
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This type of influence is practically unheard of.
Not just in politics, but in academia, media, think tanks, real estate, lobbying, and defense.
Let's start from the top.
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President Trump landed in Qatar today, after being gifted a $400 million Boeing 747 that will be transferred to his presidential library when he steps down.
The gift was apparently signed off by Pam Bondi, formerly registered as a Qatari foreign agent.
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The gift was apparently signed off by Pam Bondi, formerly registered as a Qatari foreign agent.
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In fact, several individuals in Trump's circle have noteworthy Qatari connections:
Susie Wiles, chief of staff, led Mercury Public Affairs when it represented Qatar's embassy.
FBI Director Kash Patel also worked as a consultant for Qatar.
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Susie Wiles, chief of staff, led Mercury Public Affairs when it represented Qatar's embassy.
FBI Director Kash Patel also worked as a consultant for Qatar.
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Steve Witkoff, longtime friend and senior adviser, saw his faltering Park Lane Hotel investment bought out by Qatar’s wealth fund for $623 million in 2023.
Witkoff is also serving as Trump's special envoy to the ME and is reportedly under consideration to become the new NSA.
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Witkoff is also serving as Trump's special envoy to the ME and is reportedly under consideration to become the new NSA.
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The Trump Organization itself is also planning a new luxury golf resort near Doha, and Donald Trump Jr. is slated to speak at the upcoming Qatar Economic Forum.
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All of these dealings occurred alongside Qatar's role as a host to the Muslim Brotherhood, a key financier of Hamas, a diplomatic partner of Iran, and founder and funder of Al Jazeera, the propaganda wing of the Qatari government which reaches over 430 million people.
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Qatar’s royal family makes no effort to hide any of this.
The Emir’s mother, Sheikha Moza, who chairs a massive education nonprofit in U.S. schools, openly praised Hamas mastermind Yahya Sinwar.
Just last month she was awarded Georgetown University President’s Medal.
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The Emir’s mother, Sheikha Moza, who chairs a massive education nonprofit in U.S. schools, openly praised Hamas mastermind Yahya Sinwar.
Just last month she was awarded Georgetown University President’s Medal.
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On lobbying, Qatar's spending since 2017 is calculated at $225 million.
For context, in 2021, Qatar's $51 million on lobbyists and PR was 3x more than Israel’s expenditure and nearly two-thirds of China’s.
That doesn't include $6.3 billion in U.S. education funding.
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For context, in 2021, Qatar's $51 million on lobbyists and PR was 3x more than Israel’s expenditure and nearly two-thirds of China’s.
That doesn't include $6.3 billion in U.S. education funding.
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Qatar also funded and continues to cover costs for Al Udeid Air Base (over $8 billion since 2013), the largest American military facility in the region.
Last year, America agreed to extend the lease on Al Udeid for another decade.
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Last year, America agreed to extend the lease on Al Udeid for another decade.
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According to The FP, when Professor Bruce Hoffman publicly criticized Qatar's Hamas funding, a "former very senior official" at the Defense Department told him, "That comment wasn’t appreciated about Qatar, because we can’t do anything that endangers the air base."
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Media influence is another significant area.
A former PM of Qatar stated that the country “had journalists on our payroll."
In 2019, Newsmax received $50 million from Qatar's Al Thani family, after which staff were allegedly told to soften coverage of Qatar’s abuses.
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A former PM of Qatar stated that the country “had journalists on our payroll."
In 2019, Newsmax received $50 million from Qatar's Al Thani family, after which staff were allegedly told to soften coverage of Qatar’s abuses.
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After Oct. 7th, Qatar engaged in a significant digital ad campaign:
~$570,000 for brand awareness.
~$170,000 to The NY Times and Clear Channel Outdoor.
~$110,000 to The Wall Street Journal’s parent company.
~$60,000 to Google and Meta.
~$70,000 to NJI Media for an “ad campaign"
~$570,000 for brand awareness.
~$170,000 to The NY Times and Clear Channel Outdoor.
~$110,000 to The Wall Street Journal’s parent company.
~$60,000 to Google and Meta.
~$70,000 to NJI Media for an “ad campaign"
Qatar also runs Al Jazeera which is banned in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt for inciting terrorism.
Israel has produced documents proving that AJ reporters were working with Hamas and PIJ.
In 2020, the Justice Dept. said AJ+ must register as a Qatari agent.
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Israel has produced documents proving that AJ reporters were working with Hamas and PIJ.
In 2020, the Justice Dept. said AJ+ must register as a Qatari agent.
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In academia, Qatar’s reach is even more alarming.
They are by far the largest foreign funder of U.S. universities.
They’ve given $1.8 billion to Cornell, $760 million to Georgetown, $700 million to Texas A&M, and $600 million to Northwestern.
And that’s just in Doha.
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They are by far the largest foreign funder of U.S. universities.
They’ve given $1.8 billion to Cornell, $760 million to Georgetown, $700 million to Texas A&M, and $600 million to Northwestern.
And that’s just in Doha.
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Qatar’s lobbying operation is also relentless.
Former Congressman Jim Moran, who once railed against the "pro-Israel lobby", now promotes Qatar and lobbies lawmakers while donating to their campaigns.
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Former Congressman Jim Moran, who once railed against the "pro-Israel lobby", now promotes Qatar and lobbies lawmakers while donating to their campaigns.
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Senator Roger Marshall's shift on Qatar is notable. In 2019, he said Qatar’s “blind eye” to terrorism undermined US security.
After lobbyist outreach, a 2023 Doha trip, and meeting Qatar's ruler, Senator Marshall termed criticism of Qatar's Hamas ties as "prejudice."
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After lobbyist outreach, a 2023 Doha trip, and meeting Qatar's ruler, Senator Marshall termed criticism of Qatar's Hamas ties as "prejudice."
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https://twitter.com/178999981/status/1905283104257822907
Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) publicly praised Qatar at the Doha Forum in 2023, just 2 months after Oct. 7.
That same year, Qatar invested 100's of millions of dollars in South Carolina.
(Today, Qatar announced a $200 billion Boeing purchase. Boeing production is done in SC.)
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That same year, Qatar invested 100's of millions of dollars in South Carolina.
(Today, Qatar announced a $200 billion Boeing purchase. Boeing production is done in SC.)
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This thread barely scratches the surface of the report.
If you want to understand the headlines today, you need to read the full article.
And if you found this breakdown helpful, share it.
Let people know what’s hiding in plain sight.
19/thefp.com/p/how-qatar-bo…
If you want to understand the headlines today, you need to read the full article.
And if you found this breakdown helpful, share it.
Let people know what’s hiding in plain sight.
19/thefp.com/p/how-qatar-bo…
The question we need to be asking ourselves is this:
Where is the outrage?
Where are the investigations?
Why do so many media outlets, influencers, and institutions go silent when Qatar is involved?
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Where is the outrage?
Where are the investigations?
Why do so many media outlets, influencers, and institutions go silent when Qatar is involved?
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Why is Trump in Doha today and why is he accepting this jet as a “gift”?
Why did he sign a $1.2 trillion dollar economic deal with Qatar?
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Why did he sign a $1.2 trillion dollar economic deal with Qatar?
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https://twitter.com/1222773302441148416/status/1922712197727244632
It's one thing to make a deal with countries that are responsible for horrific human rights violations.
It's another thing entirely to treat a country like that as if they are an accepted partner in Western civilization.
Qatar is the furthest thing from a free country.
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It's another thing entirely to treat a country like that as if they are an accepted partner in Western civilization.
Qatar is the furthest thing from a free country.
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Not a single Western media org bothered to report on any of this.
That should tell you how deep Qatar's pockets run.
The corruption is not limited to one side of the political isle.
Qatar knows the secret to gaining influence.
Support both sides and you can't lose.
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That should tell you how deep Qatar's pockets run.
The corruption is not limited to one side of the political isle.
Qatar knows the secret to gaining influence.
Support both sides and you can't lose.
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There have been a handful of independent journalists who have dedicated hours upon hours to expose what's going on.
One of the best is the incredible @EFischberger.
If you want to stay up to date on what Qatar is up to, he's the person to follow.
👇
One of the best is the incredible @EFischberger.
If you want to stay up to date on what Qatar is up to, he's the person to follow.
👇
https://twitter.com/1180578228588748800/status/1903446676347449801
For reasons beyond my comprehension, likely related to the safety of the hostages, the Israeli government is very hesitant to criticize Qatar.
So it falls to people like us (and The FP) to share this information.
An easy way to spot corruption is to see who stays silent.
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So it falls to people like us (and The FP) to share this information.
An easy way to spot corruption is to see who stays silent.
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A massive thank you to @bariweiss for creating an honest and free paper and to @FrannieBlock and @FPJaySolomon as well as @danielle_shap for this investigation.
If you found this thread helpful or informative, feel free to show some support:
/26buymeacoffee.com/chalavyishmael
If you found this thread helpful or informative, feel free to show some support:
/26buymeacoffee.com/chalavyishmael
I'm going to add some of my older posts about Qatar here for those who want to read more.
On the hypocrisy of student protestors:
On the hypocrisy of student protestors:
https://x.com/chalavyishmael/status/1783587163159834745?t=zLT9cpAVnnV9dW8x4ev3nw&s=19
On the recent Fatwa by the IUMS in Qatar:
https://x.com/chalavyishmael/status/1906751871143854171?t=zLT9cpAVnnV9dW8x4ev3nw&s=19
On what Qatar really thinks of Trump and Witkoff:
https://x.com/chalavyishmael/status/1920135471834775928?t=zLT9cpAVnnV9dW8x4ev3nw&s=19
On the long history of Qatari-funded terrorism:
https://x.com/chalavyishmael/status/1921979454579941814?t=zLT9cpAVnnV9dW8x4ev3nw&s=19
Trump just announced that Qatar is helping him with the Iran deal...
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