Israel Rejects Carlson’s Claim He Was Detained at Ben Gurion Airport

Anti-Israel, conservative media personality Tucker Carlson claimed Wednesday that he and members of his staff were detained by Israeli airport security shortly after interviewing U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli authorities and the U.S. Embassy firmly denied the allegation, saying the encounter amounted to standard passport control questioning.

Carlson, who flew into Israel for a brief visit and conducted the interview inside the airport complex, told the Daily Mail that security officials confiscated their travel documents and escorted one of his colleagues into a separate room.

“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 said. “It was bizarre. We’re now out of the country.”

According to multiple reports, Carlson remained inside the airport during his visit and did not enter the country beyond the terminal area. He departed Israel shortly after completing the interview.

The Israel Airports Authority rejected Carlson’s account in a formal statement shared through the Foreign Ministry.

“Contrary to the reports, Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed, or interrogated,” the authority said. “Mr. Carlson and his party were politely asked a few routine questions, in accordance with standard procedures applied to many travelers.”

The statement added that the conversation took place in a separate room within the VIP lounge “solely to protect their privacy and to avoid conducting such a discussion in public.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Israel also disputed Carlson’s description, saying he received the same passport control questions asked of many visitors.

“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,” the spokesperson said.

Huckabee himself addressed the issue publicly, writing on X that security checks are routine for anyone entering or leaving Israel.

“EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions,” Huckabee wrote.

The airport incident followed a public exchange between Carlson and Huckabee over Israel’s treatment of Christians and broader policy issues. Carlson, who has been sharply critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, had accused Huckabee on his program of failing to adequately protect Christian communities. Huckabee responded by inviting Carlson to come to Israel and speak with him directly, an offer Carlson accepted.

Reports citing sources familiar with the matter indicated that Israeli officials initially considered limiting Carlson’s entry but ultimately allowed the visit to proceed in order to avoid what was described as a potential diplomatic incident. No official Israeli government body beyond the airport authority publicly confirmed those reports.

Carlson has since left Israel, and no further action regarding the airport encounter has been announced.