On Wednesday, journalist Tucker Carlson experienced an unexpected delay at Ben Gurion Airport when Israeli security officials detained him and his staff following an interview with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee. The incident occurred shortly after the interview, which was part of a contentious visit to Israel.
Carlson, a prominent conservative voice and podcast host, traveled to Israel to meet with Huckabee after a public disagreement over Carlson's recent critique of Israel's treatment of Christians. The discussion, initially sparked on social media platform X, led to Huckabee's challenge for a face-to-face dialogue. Following the social media exchange, Carlson accepted the invitation and met with Huckabee, who is currently serving as President Donald Trump's ambassador to Israel.
The interview's content seemed to draw attention from Israeli officials, as afterward, Carlson and his team were approached by security personnel. Carlson's executive producer was separated for interrogation, and their passports were temporarily confiscated. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Carlson described the encounter as "bizarre" and confirmed that they had since left the country.
Reports from Channel 13, an Israeli news outlet, and anonymous sources indicated that there was a possibility of Israel preventing Carlson's entry, which could have resulted in a diplomatic standoff. However, the U.S. State Department's involvement in negotiations seemingly allowed the visit to proceed to avoid such an incident.
In contrast to Carlson's account, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Israel refuted the notion of exceptional treatment. The spokesman clarified that Carlson was subjected to standard passport control procedures and received the customary courtesies extended to visitors of Israel.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman criticized Carlson's limited exploration of Israel, hinting at a missed opportunity for broader engagement. This sentiment was mirrored by former Fox News anchor Melissa Francis, who mentioned President Trump's calls for de-escalating tensions regarding Israel within the Republican Party.
The backdrop of this incident includes the Republican Party's shifting attitudes toward Israel, especially among its younger members and Trump supporters. The occurrence has prompted reactions from political figures like former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who expressed disapproval of Carlson's detention.
The Carlson-Huckabee meeting was also seen as part of the Trump administration's efforts to smooth over intra-party disagreements over Israel policy, particularly as the GOP prepares for the upcoming midterm elections.
