SUMMARY
- Tucker Carlson questioned US/Israel policy in a direct exchange with Ambassador Mike Huckabee
- The meeting reflects growing Republican debate over Israel
- The conversation occurred at Ben Gurion Airport and did not extend beyond the VIP terminal
TEL AVIV, Israel — Conservative podcast host Tucker Carlson and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee engaged in what participants described as a lengthy and emotional discussion at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday, underscoring widening Republican divisions over US policy toward Israel.
The interview, facilitated by former television anchor Melissa Francis, brought together two prominent voices in the Republican Party at a sensitive moment in US/Israel relations following the October 7, 2023 Hamas led attack on southern Israel.
Carlson has increasingly criticized US support for Israel, positioning himself at odds with traditional Republican foreign policy.
Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and longtime evangelical supporter of Israel, represents a faction advocating robust US backing.
According to Francis, Carlson sought a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but did not receive a response.
Eytan Gilboa, professor of international relations at Bar-Ilan University, said the exchange reflects “a structural debate within the Republican Party over interventionism and alliance commitments.”
Shibley Telhami, professor at the University of Maryland, said intra party disputes could shape future US diplomatic positioning in the Middle East.
Melissa Francis said the discussion was “professional” and that Huckabee “challenged and corrected” Carlson.
She added that Carlson cited concerns from President Donald Trump about Republican infighting benefiting Democrats.
Observers say continued debate over Israel within the Republican Party could influence congressional funding decisions and diplomatic messaging.
The Tucker Carlson Mike Huckabee meeting highlights evolving dynamics in Republican foreign policy as US/Israel relations remain central to Middle East diplomacy.
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