Tucker Carlson falsely claims he was detained for questioning in Israel

The far-right podcaster refused to enter Israel after arriving at the airport, remaining in the VIP lounge during his interview with Ambassador Mike Huckabee.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Far-right podcaster Tucker Carlson claimed he and his producer were detained by Israeli authorities during their brief stay at Ben Gurion International Airport, adding that the two were interrogated by officials who confiscated their passports.

The 56-year-old media veteran arrived in Israel on Wednesday for an interview with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

After arriving at the airport, Carlson and his team remained in the VIP lounge for several hours for the interview before departing on a return flight.

However, following Carlson’s departure from Ben Gurion, Britain’s Daily Mail published an article falsely claiming that Carlson and his executive producer were “dragged into [an] interrogation room” and “detained” by Israeli authorities who “confiscated” their passports.

“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 Daily Mail.

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

But the US Embassy in Jerusalem and the Israel Airports Authority quickly pushed back on the report.

“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,” the IAA said.

“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. No unusual incident occurred, and the Israel Airports Authority firmly rejects any other claims.”

A spokesman for the US Embassy also denied the Daily Mail‘s claims, saying that the podcaster “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 spokesman also denied claims that the US had intervened on behalf of Carlson to ensure that Israel would permit him to enter the country.

Laura Loomer, a right-wing activist with ties to President Donald Trump, noted that the author of the article, Phillip Nieto, is a former employee of Carlson’s The Daily Caller, and she accused Carlson of planting the false story.

Neil Patel, Carlson’s longtime business partner and co-founder of The Daily Caller, accompanied Carlson during his brief visit to Ben Gurion International Airport.

The Trump administration has previously criticized Nieto for making false claims about Vice President JD Vance in an article for The Daily Mail.

She added that claims the Trump administration was responsible for arranging the interview with Huckabee were false.

“Tucker planted the story with his former employee and made up a lie about how the White House wanted him to do this ‘debate’ with Governor Mike Huckabee about Israel ahead of the midterms. That is a complete lie. The White House didn’t ask Tucker to do anything.”

Ambassador Huckabee also weighed in, noting that all incoming travelers to Israel are asked security questions.

“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,” Huckabee wrote on his X account.

The Daily Mail later amended its article, adding the statements from the embassy spokesman and the IAA.