Tucker has been outspoken lately. And it’s coming back to bite him.
Because now Tucker Carlson was detained at an Israeli airport for a stunning reason.
Conservative media figure Tucker Carlson reported that he and his production team experienced what he described as detention at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport following a brief interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
The incident occurred during a short visit on February 18, 2026, where Carlson did not leave the airport premises.
Incident at the Airport
Carlson stated that after concluding the interview, airport personnel identifying themselves as security took the group’s passports and separated his executive producer for questioning in a side room.
He described the exchange as follows: “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.”
He characterized the situation as “bizarre” and confirmed that the team subsequently left the country.
The visit was limited to the airport, where the interview took place, and Carlson posted a photo beforehand with business partner Neil Patel captioned “Greetings from Israel.”
Official Responses and Denials
Israeli authorities and U.S. officials rejected the characterization of the event as a detention. The Israel Airports Authority stated that Carlson and his group were “politely asked a few routine questions, in accordance with standard procedures applied to many travelers.”
They explained that any discussion occurred in a separate room within the VIP lounge area to maintain privacy and avoid public exposure.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee dismissed Carlson’s account, noting: “EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Israel similarly indicated that Carlson underwent the standard passport control process typical for all visitors.
Broader Context and Reactions
Carlson, who has been a prominent critic of certain U.S. policies toward Israel since departing Fox News in 2023, conducted the interview as part of his independent platform. His past commentary has included strong criticism of figures associated with strong support for Israel.
Some observers and former officials reacted to the episode, with one former U.S. Ambassador to Israel commenting on Carlson’s decision not to venture beyond the airport despite invitations to explore more of the country.
Other public figures offered varied opinions on the reported events and Carlson’s portrayal of them.
