Tucker Carlson Claims Israel Detained Him

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Political Correspondent | JRL CHARTS

LAS VEGAS — (February 19, 2026) — Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson is alleging that he and members of his production team were briefly detained during a recent visit to Israel, claims that Israeli officials and U.S. diplomatic representatives strongly dispute.

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According to statements Carlson provided to British tabloid The Daily Mail, he said airport security officials at Ben-Gurion Airport temporarily confiscated passports and questioned members of his team following an interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Carlson stated that men identifying themselves as airport security “took our passports” and escorted his executive producer to a separate room for questioning regarding the content of their discussion with the ambassador.

Embassy and Israeli Officials Push Back

However, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Israel told The Daily Mail that Carlson was subject only to routine entry procedures and standard questioning that many travelers experience upon arrival.

Israeli media outlets, including The Jerusalem Post, reported that Carlson never officially entered the country beyond the airport’s secured zone. The interview with Ambassador Huckabee reportedly occurred within airport facilities, and Carlson departed Israel later the same day, concluding what was described as a brief visit.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett publicly criticized Carlson on social platform X, dismissing the detention claims as fabricated and accusing the commentator of misrepresenting the situation.

Bennett alleged that Carlson did not enter Israel proper and characterized the incident as exaggerated.

Political Context and Growing Tensions

The episode unfolds amid shifting political dynamics within U.S. conservative circles regarding Israel and American foreign policy.

In recent months, Carlson has positioned himself as an increasingly vocal critic of U.S. policy toward Israel and of what he describes as “Christian Zionism,” rhetoric that has drawn both support and criticism within Republican and conservative media ecosystems.

Support for Israel, historically a near-consensus issue among American conservatives, has become more fractured in recent years, particularly amid broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and internal debates about foreign aid, military alliances, and religious influence in foreign policy.

The reported airport incident — regardless of its characterization — highlights the heightened sensitivities surrounding political narratives involving Israel, U.S. diplomacy, and conservative media figures.

A Brief Visit, A Larger Debate

Available reporting indicates Carlson’s trip lasted only a few hours. He reportedly departed Israel around 3 p.m., returning to the United States shortly thereafter.

Whether the encounter amounted to routine questioning or something more unusual remains a matter of conflicting accounts.

What is clear is that the dispute has already fueled broader political debate across social media platforms and conservative networks — underscoring how quickly international travel incidents can become ideological flashpoints.

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