President Trump Demands Qatar Stop Funding Terrorists

© AP Photo / Andrew HarnikPresident Donald Trump, accompanied by Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis, walk to the dais to begin a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House, Friday, June 9, 2017, in Washington.
President Donald Trump, accompanied by Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis, walk to the dais to begin a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House, Friday, June 9, 2017, in Washington. - Sputnik International
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"Stop funding, stop teaching hate, and stop the killing," US President Donald Trump said Friday during a news conference with the Romanian president after alleging that Doha has propped up Islamist extremists.

"No more funding," Trump emphasized. His comments come following the diplomatic row that erupted last week between Qatar and major Middle East powers like Saudi Arabia and Egypt. 

U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis gestures during a press briefing on the campaign to defeat ISIS at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., May 19, 2017 - Sputnik International
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The "high level" of support — whether it be financial, logistical or moral — for terror groups originating in Doha must stop, the president said.

"I want to call on all of the nations to stop immediately supporting terrorism," Trump reiterated.  

Trump thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting a "historic" summit between the US and more than 50 nations, noting that this will hopefully serve as a platform that marks "the beginning of the end of terrorism." He did not mention, however, Riyadh's well-documented role in supporting violent extremists in the Middle East and beyond. 

Following the summit, Trump said, "nations came together and spoke to me about confronting Qatar over its behaviors. So we had a decision to make. Do we take the easy road or do we finally take a hard but necessary action?"

U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber arrives at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar (File) - Sputnik International
Trump Says Qatar Funds Terrorism, But Pentagon Urges Business as Usual with Doha

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, "The Emir of Qatar has made progress in halting financial support and expelling terrorist elements from his country. But he must do more and he must do it more quickly."

Last week, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates suspended diplomatic relations with Qatar over what they call the country's support for terrorism. Jordan has also downgraded ties with Qatar and shuttered Amman's Al Jazeera offices. Kuwait has stepped in to attempt to mediate the disagreement.  

The Al Jazeera network, which is funded by Qatar, said it came under a massive cyber attack in the days after the diplomatic blockade against Qatar was launched. 

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