Qatar’s ambassador to the United States, Meshal al-Thani, issued a rare and direct rebuke to Republican Congressman Randy Fine for his Islamophobic and anti-Qatar comments during an interview with far-right social media personality Laura Loomer. Fine, a Jewish-American lawmaker and staunch supporter of Israel’s war on Gaza, has a history of inflammatory rhetoric, including calls for Israel to ‘nuke’ Gaza and for Palestinians to ‘starve away.’ He has also been a vocal critic of protests against Israel on US college campuses, falsely accusing Qatar of funding these demonstrations and labeling them as ‘antisemitic.’ In a letter shared on X, Ambassador al-Thani condemned Fine’s remarks, emphasizing Qatar’s commitment to combating antisemitism and all forms of religious or ethnic intolerance. He also refuted Fine’s allegations, citing a 2024 US House of Representatives report that found no evidence of Qatari involvement in campus unrest. Al-Thani further highlighted Qatar’s role as a key US ally, hosting the largest US military base in the Middle East and contributing to joint defense missions. He noted that Qatar’s F-15 purchases and support generate thousands of US jobs. The ambassador also addressed Fine’s fear-mongering about Qatari fighter pilots training in the US, stating that such arrangements are standard among allies and fully funded by Qatar. Al-Thani concluded by reminding Fine of the significant Muslim population in the US, including 127,000 in his home state of Florida.
Qatar’s US ambassador rebukes Congressman Randy Fine after Laura Loomer interview
