Trump calls Qatar leader after accusing the country of 'funding extremism'

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

President Trump spoke with the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar in a phone call Wednesday, one day after the president cited Qatar in a series of tweets after seven Arab countries cut off their ties with that country.

"During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology," Trump tweeted. "Leaders pointed to Qatar — look!"

"So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!" he said in subsequent tweets.

The Pentagon said in response to questions about the president's tweets that it had no interest in picking a fight with Qatar, and the president's call to the country's leader appears to be an attempt to limit the damage from Trump's comments.

According to the White House, Trump "emphasized the importance of all countries in the region working together" to prevent the flow of money to terrorist organizations and "stop the promotion of extremist ideology."

The White House also said Trump reiterated a strong United State-Gulf Cooperation Council partnership was crucial to combating terrorism.

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