Qatar's Campaign to Influence America: A Brief Intro 🧵 As...
Eitan Fischberger@EFischberger
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Apr 18, 2025
~2 min read
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Qatar's Campaign to Influence America: A Brief Intro 🧵
As @DouglasKMurray rightly points out, while critics obsess over Israel, it's Qatar that’s spent billions quietly shaping the US—across lobbying, media, universities, and more.
More funded. More opaque. Less talked about.
As @DouglasKMurray rightly points out, while critics obsess over Israel, it's Qatar that’s spent billions quietly shaping the US—across lobbying, media, universities, and more.
More funded. More opaque. Less talked about.
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1. Lobbying & FARA Compliance
🔸️ Qatar spent $250M+ on lobbying since 2017, hiring 35+ firms, many under FARA.
🔸️ In 2017–18 alone: $19.5M to rehab its image during the Gulf Crisis.
🔸️ DOJ ordered AJ+ to register as a foreign agent. Qatar refused.
🔸️ Israel’s gov doesn’t lobby through FARA. AIPAC spent $3.3M in 2024—all legal & disclosed.
🔸️ Qatar spent $250M+ on lobbying since 2017, hiring 35+ firms, many under FARA.
🔸️ In 2017–18 alone: $19.5M to rehab its image during the Gulf Crisis.
🔸️ DOJ ordered AJ+ to register as a foreign agent. Qatar refused.
🔸️ Israel’s gov doesn’t lobby through FARA. AIPAC spent $3.3M in 2024—all legal & disclosed.
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2. University & Academic Funding
🔸️ Qatar is the #1 foreign donor to U.S. universities: $4.7B–$6B+ since 2001.
🔸️ Texas A&M: $404M, Georgetown: $450M+, Carnegie Mellon: $100M+.
🔸️ Israel’s government? $0. No records of direct university donations.
🔸️ Qatar is the #1 foreign donor to U.S. universities: $4.7B–$6B+ since 2001.
🔸️ Texas A&M: $404M, Georgetown: $450M+, Carnegie Mellon: $100M+.
🔸️ Israel’s government? $0. No records of direct university donations.
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3. Think Tank & NGO Funding
🔸️ Qatar gave $14.8M to Brookings, $9.1M to others like Atlantic Council & MEI (2018–2023).
🔸️ Israel: No direct government funding. Think tank support comes from U.S. private donors.
🔸️ Qatar gave $14.8M to Brookings, $9.1M to others like Atlantic Council & MEI (2018–2023).
🔸️ Israel: No direct government funding. Think tank support comes from U.S. private donors.
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4. Media & Influence Ops
🔸️ Qatar owns Al Jazeera and AJ+. DOJ ruled AJ+ is Qatari state-controlled.
🔸️Many prominent American media outlets have offices in Doha, including CNN and Bloomberg.
🔸️ Washington Post employs numerous veterans of Al Jazeera who continue to promote its agenda.
🔸️ Qatar invested $50M in Newsmax, reportedly softening coverage.
🔸️ It also paid for 250 Trump-world influencers to visit Doha in 2018—Huckabee among them.
🔸️ Israel doesn’t fund media. Uses official spokespeople and civil society advocates.
🔸️ Qatar owns Al Jazeera and AJ+. DOJ ruled AJ+ is Qatari state-controlled.
🔸️Many prominent American media outlets have offices in Doha, including CNN and Bloomberg.
🔸️ Washington Post employs numerous veterans of Al Jazeera who continue to promote its agenda.
🔸️ Qatar invested $50M in Newsmax, reportedly softening coverage.
🔸️ It also paid for 250 Trump-world influencers to visit Doha in 2018—Huckabee among them.
🔸️ Israel doesn’t fund media. Uses official spokespeople and civil society advocates.
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5. U.S. Investments
🔸️ Qatar’s sovereign fund (QIA) pledged $45B+ to U.S. assets.
🔸️ Empire State Realty: $622M, CityCenterDC: $600M+, 666 Fifth Ave: $1.2B.
🔸️ Sports: QIA joined $4.05B deal for Washington Wizards/Capitals.
🔸️ Israel has no sovereign fund. Government owns zero U.S. assets.
🔸️ Qatar’s sovereign fund (QIA) pledged $45B+ to U.S. assets.
🔸️ Empire State Realty: $622M, CityCenterDC: $600M+, 666 Fifth Ave: $1.2B.
🔸️ Sports: QIA joined $4.05B deal for Washington Wizards/Capitals.
🔸️ Israel has no sovereign fund. Government owns zero U.S. assets.
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6. Curriculum & K–12 Education
🔸️ Qatar Foundation gave $30M+ to U.S. public schools (2009–2017).
🔸️ Reached 22+ districts in Houston, Chicago, LA, etc.
🔸️Qatar Foundation International (QFI) covertly influenced Brown University's Choices Program, used in over 8,000 U.S. schools, to promote anti-Israel bias. ISGAP reports systematic content shifts and undisclosed foreign funding in K–12 education.
🔸️ Israel? No curriculum funding. Influence comes via U.S.-based civil society groups, not government cash.
🔸️ Qatar Foundation gave $30M+ to U.S. public schools (2009–2017).
🔸️ Reached 22+ districts in Houston, Chicago, LA, etc.
🔸️Qatar Foundation International (QFI) covertly influenced Brown University's Choices Program, used in over 8,000 U.S. schools, to promote anti-Israel bias. ISGAP reports systematic content shifts and undisclosed foreign funding in K–12 education.
🔸️ Israel? No curriculum funding. Influence comes via U.S.-based civil society groups, not government cash.
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Bottom Line:
🔸️ Qatar spends more
🔸️ Influences more sectors
🔸️ And hides it
While Israel gets the scrutiny, Qatar has built the most underreported influence network in America—spanning media, education, think tanks, lobbying, and real estate.
And nobody talks about it.
🔸️ Qatar spends more
🔸️ Influences more sectors
🔸️ And hides it
While Israel gets the scrutiny, Qatar has built the most underreported influence network in America—spanning media, education, think tanks, lobbying, and real estate.
And nobody talks about it.
