Tucker Carlson Alleges Israeli Authorities Held Him: ‘It Was Surreal’
Tucker Carlson asserts that he and his crew were “held” at Ben Gurion Airport upon arriving to interview U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a claim that has ignited significant debate.
Upon landing, Carlson alleges that airport officials confronted his team. “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,” he recounted.
“It was surreal. We’re now out of the country,” Carlson added, reflecting on the incident.
However, Huckabee himself challenged Carlson’s narrative, stating on social media: “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.”
In a further rebuttal, the U.S. Embassy in Israel issued a statement denying Carlson's claims, asserting he received standard passport control inquiries similar to those faced by countless visitors, including diplomats.
The embassy spokesperson elaborated: “It is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview. The only engagement the embassy had with Israel about his visit was to coordinate his private plane landing as part of facilitating a seamless visit.”
Moreover, the Israeli Airports Authority clarified: “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.”
They emphasized that the conversation occurred in a separate room within the VIP lounge to ensure privacy, dismissing any claims of unusual incidents.
David Friedman, a former ambassador, also weighed in, poking fun at Carlson for not venturing beyond the airport during his brief visit. “Too bad Tucker stayed in the airport in the face of so many invitations to see so many wonderful places,” he remarked on social media.
Carlson's criticisms of Israel have intensified since departing Fox News in 2023 and launching his own platform. Last year, he faced backlash for insinuating that Israel was involved in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a claim lacking evidence.
His controversial remarks have drawn ire from various quarters, including Ben Shapiro, who criticized him for a lenient interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine labeled him the “most dangerous antisemite in America,” while StopAntisemitism named him “Antisemite of the Year.”
In a recent episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, he discussed alleged persecution of Christians in Israel and featured an interview with Fares Abraham, whose family has lived “there since Jesus,” sharing their experiences.
