- Tucker Carlson claims Israeli security detained and questioned him after an interview.
- Israeli authorities and the U.S. Embassy deny any detention occurred.
- Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett called Carlson a liar in a scathing personal attack.
- The incident highlights Carlson's role as a vocal critic of Israel on the American right.
- The dispute reflects a growing Republican Party rift over U.S. support for Israel.
A brief trip to an Israeli airport has ignited a fiery international spat, pulling in a former prime minister, a U.S. ambassador, and one of America's most prominent conservative voices. The controversy centers on Tucker Carlson's claims of being detained and interrogated after an interview, allegations that have been forcefully denied by Israeli authorities and mocked by former Israeli leader Naftali Bennett as a complete fabrication.
Carlson, the conservative podcast host and ally of President Donald Trump, flew into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday for a planned interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The meeting was arranged after a public disagreement online, where Carlson had criticized Israel's treatment of Christians. According to Carlson's account to the Daily Mail, the situation escalated quickly after the interview concluded. He stated that airport security officials confiscated his team's passports and took his executive producer for questioning.
"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 outlet. "It was bizarre. We’re now out of the country." Prior to the interview, Carlson had posted a photo on social media from the airport with the caption "Greetings from Israel."
A swift and brutal denial
The response from Israeli officials was immediate and unequivocal. The Israel Airports Authority stated that "Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed, or interrogated." The U.S. Embassy in Israel also backed this version of events. A spokesperson said Carlson "received the same passport control questions that countless visitors to Israel, including Ambassador Huckabee and other diplomats, receive as part of normal entrance and exit from Israel."
Ambassador Huckabee, who has known Carlson for decades, echoed this point on social media. "EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions," Huckabee wrote. "Even ME going in/out with Diplomatic Passport & Diplomatic Visa."
Bennett's blistering personal attack
The most scathing rebuttal, however, came from former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. In a social media post, Bennett launched a personal attack on Carlson, dismissing his entire narrative. "Tucker Carlson is a chickens---," Bennett wrote. "The guy who’s been spouting lies about Israel for the past two years, landed today at Ben Gurion airport, took a quick picture in the logistics zone, tweeted it to pretend he’s actually IN Israel (so he can later claim that he’s a serious reporter who toured Israel), didn’t even step foot in country, then made up a story that he’s being supposedly harassed by our security (didn’t happen), whined about it, got back into the private jet and flew off."
Bennett concluded by telling his followers, "Next time he talks about Israel as if he’s some expert, just remember this guy is a phony!" This level of direct insult from a former head of government highlights the intense feelings Carlson's commentary on Israel has provoked within the country's political establishment.
A backdrop of growing tension
Carlson has become one of the most vocal critics of Israel on the American right, repeatedly condemning its military campaign in Gaza and arguing that pro-Israel lobbying groups exert excessive influence over U.S. politics. His trip itself was reportedly fraught, with sources telling the Daily Mail that Israeli authorities initially considered barring his entry, relenting only to avoid a "diplomatic incident."
The episode underscores a significant and growing rift within the Republican Party concerning U.S. policy toward Israel. While traditional party orthodoxy has offered steadfast support, a faction led by voices like Carlson and aligned with some younger voters has grown increasingly skeptical of unconditional backing, particularly regarding the war in Gaza and the strategic push for conflict with Iran.
For now, the conflicting stories stand in direct opposition. Carlson maintains he was targeted for a hostile interrogation about his conversation with the U.S. Ambassador. Israeli and U.S. diplomatic officials insist he experienced nothing more than routine security procedures. The truth may be difficult to disentangle, but the fallout is clear: a major media figure and a key U.S. ally are now locked in a bitter public dispute that reflects deeper political currents threatening to reshape old alliances.
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