U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee Responds to Reports of Tucker Carlson Being Detained in Israel
United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has responded to reports that conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson was detained in Israel.
In an exclusive report, The Daily Mail on Wednesday reported that Tucker Carlson was detained and interrogated by Israeli officials at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.
Tucker was in Israel to conduct an interview with former Presidential candidate and now U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Carlson reportedly told the outlet, “Men who identified themselves as airport security took our passports, hauled our executive producer into a side room and then demanded to know what we spoke to Ambassador Huckabee about.”
In response to the Daily Mail’s report, Governor Mike Huckabee released a statement on X and wrote, “EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions.”
“Even ME going in/out with Diplomatic Passport & Diplomatic Visa,” added Huckabee.
LOOK:
Thanks @EFischberger for a more accurate report. EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions. Even ME going in/out with Diplomatic Passport & Diplomatic Visa. https://t.co/UbblLiznMO
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) February 18, 2026
Per The Daily Mail:
Conservative podcasting titan Tucker Carlson said he and his staff were detained in Israel on Wednesday following an interview with Donald Trump’s ambassador to the country. The former Fox News host flew into Tel Aviv for a sit-down with Mike Huckabee, who challenged Carlson to speak to him directly following an online spat about the country’s treatment of Christians.
Carlson, who also frequently criticizes Israel for its military actions in Gaza, took Huckabee up on his offer.But as critics and pro-Israel activists began piling on Carlson for purportedly not leaving the airport during his brief visit, he revealed that he was met with hostility in the Middle Eastern country.
Carlson exclusively told the Daily Mail that shortly after the interview, Israeli officials confiscated his passport and hauled one of his colleagues off to an interrogation room. ‘Men who identified themselves as airport security took our passports, hauled our executive producer into a side room and then demanded to know what we spoke to Ambassador Huckabee about,’ Carlson told the Daily Mail.
‘It was bizarre. We’re now out of the country.’
Tucker has yet to release a statement on the incident outside of what he reportedly told the Daily Mail.
However, he did post a photo of himself in Israel.
Greetings from Israel. pic.twitter.com/1uBWvqBNST
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) February 18, 2026
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has since responded to the Daily Mail’s report and stated, “Contrary to the reports, Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed, or interrogated.”
“Mr. Carlson and his party were politely asked a few routine questions, in accordance with standard procedures applied to many travelers,” added the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Israeli Airports Authority:
Contrary to the reports, Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed, or interrogated.
Mr. Carlson and his party were politely asked a few routine questions, in accordance with standard procedures applied to many travelers.
The…— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) February 18, 2026
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