Tucker Carlson alleges mistreatment, detention by Israeli officials after spending several hours in Ben Gurion Airport for Huckabee interview

February 20, 2026

Former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson who has been openly critical of Israel’s government in recent months, says Israeli officials detained him for several hours at Ben Gurion Airport, a claim that is being denied by the U.S. Embassy and airport officials.

The Christian Post reports that Carlson traveled to Israel to interview U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee regarding the alleged mistreatment of Christians in Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Carlson conducted the interview on airport grounds and told the Daily Mail that his passport was confiscated by Israeli officials and that he and his business partner Neil Patel were questioned following his meeting with Huckabee.

Carlson told the Mail, “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.”

Airport officials and the U.S. Embassy claimed that Carlson was not mistreated and that he “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.”

According to the Christian Post, Huckabee and Carlson agreed to meet following the release of a film titled “Christian Persecution,” which criticizes alleged mistreatment of Christians in Israel.

Before Carlson’s visit, Channel 13 had reported that Israeli officials deliberated about whether to allow him into the country, in light of his consistent criticism against the Israeli government.

Channel 13 also reported that it was decided to allow Carlson to enter the country to avert a potential “diplomatic incident.”

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