Tucker Carlson, a prominent conservative podcaster, reported an unexpected encounter during his trip to Israel on Wednesday. After interviewing Mike Huckabee, serving as Donald Trump’s ambassador to Israel, Carlson and his team were allegedly detained.
Arriving in Tel Aviv, Carlson aimed to resolve a public disagreement with Huckabee regarding Israel’s treatment of Christians by conducting a face-to-face interview.
Carlson, known for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its treatment of Christians, accepted Huckabee’s challenge for a direct dialogue.
However, Carlson faced backlash from critics and pro-Israel advocates, who accused him of not venturing beyond the airport during his short visit. In response, Carlson described his experience of hostility in Israel.
In an exclusive account to the Daily Mail, Carlson shared that immediately following the interview, Israeli authorities seized his passport and took his executive producer for questioning.
“Individuals identifying as airport security confiscated our passports and took our executive producer aside, demanding details about our conversation with Ambassador Huckabee,” Carlson recounted to the Daily Mail.
‘It was bizarre. We’re now out of the country.’
Prior to the interview, Carlson posted a photo on X alongside his business partner Neil Patel in front of Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday with the caption: ‘Greetings from Israel.’
Carlson says he and his staff were detained at Ben Gurion airport and interrogated by Israeli officials on Wednesday following an interview with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee
Carlson frequently criticizes Israel for it’s military actions in Gaza and treatment of Christians
Huckabee, who has known Carlson for over three decades and previously worked with him at Fox News, invited Carlson to Israel for a discussion over their differences
‘Too bad Tucker stayed in the airport in the face of so many invitations to see so many wonderful places. A huge and obviously intentional missed opportunity,’ taunted David Friedman, the former US ambassador to Israel during Trump’s first term.
Two sources familiar with the matter, however, told the Daily Mail that the Israeli government initially did not want to allow Carlson into the country, prompting a delicate negotiation involving the State Department.
The Israeli government decided to not bar Carlson from entering the country the visit in order to not cause a ‘diplomatic incident,’ according to a Channel 13 report.
The Daily Mail has contacted the White House, State Department, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office for comment.
Carlson accused Huckabee last week on his YouTube show of not ensuring proper protections for Christians in Israel.
Huckabee, who has known Carlson for over three decades and previously worked with him at Fox News, responded by inviting him to Israel for a discussion.
‘Instead of talking about me, why don’t you come talk to me?’ Huckabee wrote on X. Carlson replied by welcoming the invitation before noting the they were working on setting up the interview.
Israel’s popularity remains at a all-time low in the GOP among young Republican voters and Trump supporters.
The Carlson-Huckabee event was reportedly an attempt by the Trump administration to prevent debates surrounding Israel from breaking the GOP’s conservative coalition ahead of the midterms.
Carlson is a longtime supporter of Trump and ally of Vice President JD Vance
Carlson and his business partner Neil Patel at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday
Trump urged Carlson and others within the GOP to ease off internal fights with Republicans over Israel, according to former Fox News anchor Melissa Francis.
‘Everybody’s looking for a way to turn down the temperature,’ Francis told the Jerusalem Post. ‘President Trump is telling everyone, including Tucker, “Let’s take this down.”‘
Carlson is a longtime ally to Vice President JD Vance and speaks with Trump on a range of issues, including foreign policy.
Last month, Carlson visited the White House twice and met with Trump in the Oval Office on at least one known occasion.
