Mark Levin Calls Trump’s Dual Ties to Saudi Arabia and Qatar ‘So Bizarre’

Fox commentator Mark Levin on Wednesday voiced sharp bewilderment at President Donald Trump’s simultaneous commitments to both Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two Gulf rivals with a long history of mutual hostility.

“So, Saudi Arabia is to become a major non‑NATO ally, and Qatar is a protectorate for which we will go to war if necessary. The problem is that Saudi Arabia’s main enemy apart from Iran is Qatar. Qatar’s main enemy is Saudi Arabia, which they would love to overthrow through terror groups. The two countries have long despised each other. Therefore, we are promising to defend both. It all seems so bizarre.”

Levin’s reaction followed Trump’s announcement at a state dinner that Saudi Arabia would be designated a major non‑NATO ally, alongside an earlier presidential order this year that the United States would guarantee Qatar’s security and view any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to U.S. peace and security.

A long‑time Trump backer, Levin has nonetheless been openly critical of the president’s relationship with Qatar during his second term. He questioned whether the U.S. would be obliged to intervene if Israeli forces targeted Hamas leaders believed to be sheltered in Qatar, and argued that any security pledge should include concrete conditions.

Levin suggested possible requirements such as turning over Hamas leaders, ending funding for terrorist organizations, and stopping support for what he described as “Marxist‑Islamist” groups operating in the United States. He also took a jab at fellow conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, mocking him with the nickname “Qatarlson” in reference to critics of the deal.

Levin framed his objections in strategic terms: pledging to defend two adversarial Gulf states risks entangling the United States in conflicting regional disputes unless diplomatic conditions and safeguards are clearly established.