White House: Trump Saddened by Doha Airstrike, Calls Hamas a Worthy Target

Washington, DC – Sept 2025 : White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump was “deeply saddened” by the location of Israel’s recent airstrike in Doha, the capital of Qatar. While expressing regret over the attack in a close US ally’s territory, the administration reiterated that the elimination of Hamas remains a “worthy goal.”

Speaking at a media briefing, Levitt explained that the Trump administration was informed of the Israeli operation only on the morning of the strike. “This morning, the US military informed the Trump administration that Israel was attacking Hamas, which was unfortunately located in a part of Doha, the capital of Qatar,” she said. “Unilateral bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and a close ally of the US that has been taking risks alongside us to pursue peace, does not advance the goals of Israel or the United States. However, the elimination of Hamas, which has profited from the suffering of those in Gaza, remains a worthwhile goal.”

Levitt added that President Trump acted immediately upon learning of the attack. “The president instructed Special Envoy Steven Witkoff to inform Qatari authorities without delay. The President considers Qatar a strong ally and friend of the United States and is deeply saddened by the location of this attack,” she said, highlighting the longstanding US-Qatar partnership.

Qatar, however, rejected the claim that it had received prior notice. Dr. Majed Al Ansari, adviser to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said the call from the US came only after explosions began. “The statements being circulated about Qatar having advance knowledge are baseless. The call from a US official came during the sound of explosions caused by the Israeli attack in Doha,” Al Ansari wrote on X.

Levitt also noted that President Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the strike. “President Trump wants all hostages and the bodies of the deceased in Gaza to be released, and he wants this war to end immediately. Prime Minister Netanyahu assured the President that he seeks peace as well,” she said. Levitt added that Trump spoke with Qatar’s Emir and Prime Minister to reaffirm US commitment to their security and assured that such incidents would not recur.

The White House emphasized that while the incident in Doha was deeply regrettable, the broader goal of countering Hamas’ influence in Gaza remains a priority for the Trump administration, with Washington continuing to support diplomatic and security cooperation in the region.