Israel, US envoy reject Tucker Carlson’s claim he was detained and interrogated at airport

Conservative anti-Israel media personality Tucker Carlson claims that he was detained by Israeli security staff at Ben Gurion Airport after interviewing US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, which Israel — and Huckabee — firmly deny.

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

The Israel Airports Authority “firmly rejects” the claims.

“Contrary to the reports, Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed, or interrogated,” the IAA says in a statement shared by the Foreign Ministry. “Mr. Carlson and his party were politely asked a few routine questions, in accordance with standard procedures applied to many travelers.

“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.”

Huckabee chimes in.

“EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions,” he writes on X. “Even ME going in/out with Diplomatic Passport & Diplomatic Visa.”