Former Fox News host alleges airport security detained him over Huckabee conversation; U.S. Embassy disputes account
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson claims he was detained by Israeli airport security following his interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, according to a statement he gave to The Daily Mail. Carlson said men identifying themselves as airport security took his team’s passports and isolated his executive producer for questioning about the content of his ambassador interview.[1][6]
“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 stated. He and his team have since departed Israel.[1]
Embassy denies detention allegations
A spokesperson from the U.S. Embassy in Israel contradicted Carlson’s characterization of events, stating that he received standard treatment consistent with all visitors to the country.[1] “It is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview,” the spokesperson said, according to The Daily Mail. “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.”[1]
The embassy further noted that Carlson independently chose to remain at the airport for only a few hours before departing, and that he received “the same positive treatment of any visitors to Israel.”[1][6]
Competing accounts on government position
According to The Jerusalem Post, Carlson remained at Ben-Gurion Airport throughout his visit rather than venturing beyond airport premises. Two sources exclusively told The Daily Mail that the Israeli government initially did not want Carlson to enter the country but ultimately permitted entry to avoid creating a diplomatic incident.[1]
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman claimed that Carlson stayed at the airport and declined an invitation to visit different parts of the country.[1]
Interview timing unclear
The timing of when Carlson’s interview with Ambassador Huckabee will air remains unclear. Carlson and his business partner Neil Patel had announced their presence in Israel on social media prior to the reported incident.[1]
This is a developing story.[6]
