Donald Trump accuses Qatar of funding terrorism 'at very high level'

Donald Trump has accused Qatar of funding terrorism at a "very high level", and says that the world wants the small country to rejoin "the unity of responsible nations" in bringing about "the beginning of the end" of the global threat.

However, his remarks appeared at odds with his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who just hours before urged Gulf nations to go easier on Qatar. Several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, have imposed a diplomatic blockade on Qatar, and have said that the nation needs to meet several demands – including ending alleged support for terrorism – before it can restart diplomatic ties.

"The nation of Qatar has unfortunately been a funder of terrorism, and at a very high level", Mr Trump said during an appearance alongside the President of Romania – Klaus Iohannis – at the White House. Mr Tillerson was sitting just few away watching as he was seemingly contradicted by the President.

Launching an extraordinary allegation against a key US military partner, Mr Trump derided what he called Qatar's “extremist ideology in terms of funding” terrorist groups, an accusation Qatar has repeatedly and vehemently denied. His comments were a forceful endorsement of this week's move by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to cut off ties to Qatar, The Independent reports.