Conservative figure Tucker Carlson traveled to Israel this week, and he claims he was detained at the airport, following a contentious interview. However, is there more to the story?
In this post:
Tucker Carlson claims he was detained at Ben Gurion Airport
Tucker Carlson is a polarizing conservative figure, and in recent times, he has become a pretty vocal critic of Israel, including of the country’s actions in Gaza.
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Carlson traveled to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), in order to have an interview with Mike Huckabee, the United States Ambassador to Israel. This followed an online spat between the two about how Christians are treated in Israel, with Carlson accusing Huckabee of not doing enough to protect Christians in the country.
The two have known one another for decades, and even worked together at Fox News. So Huckabee invited Carlson to interview him in person, saying “instead of talking about me, why don’t you come talk to me?”
Carlson flew in on a private jet and didn’t actually leave the airport premises for the interview, as the idea was to have the interview and then leave right away. However, Carlson claims that shortly after the interview, Israeli officials confiscated his passport, and took him to an interrogation room.
As he explained, “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.”
Ultimately after extensive questioning, Carlson was allowed to leave the country. Interestingly, some reports suggest that the Israeli government initially didn’t want to allow Carlson into the country, leading to a negotiation with the State Department. This report suggests that in the end, Israel decided not to ban Carlson, in order to avoid a diplomatic incident. However, these claims are disputed, as I’ll cover below.
It sounds like Tucker Carlson just got the usual treatment?
As I read about Carlson’s experience, I couldn’t help but think “wait a second, it sounds like he just got the standard Ben Gurion Airport treatment?” Israel is known for having the world’s strictest airport security, and it’s totally normal to be placed in a room and questioned by security officials.
So I believe Carlson just doesn’t fully understand how security usually works at the airport. Odds are that him being a critic of the country may have subjected him to extra questioning, just as I was questioned when departing the airport due to my travel patterns. But that’s really just how things work at the airport, like it or not, and it doesn’t sound like he was objected to anything out of the ordinary.
For what it’s worth, a spokesperson for the United States Embassy in Israel claims that Carlson “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 representative also pushed back on the claim of Carlson nearly not being allowed into the country, explaining that “it is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview. The only engagement the Embassy had with Israel about his visit was to coordinate his private plane landing as part of facilitating a seamless visit. It was Tucker who chose to only come into the country for a few hours and depart. And Tucker received the same positive treatment of any visitors to Israel.”
Meanwhile former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took to social media to call Carlson a “chicken$***,” writing “the guy who’s been spouting lies about Israel for the past two years, landed today at Ben Gurion airport, took a quick picture in the logistics zone, tweeted it to pretend he’s actually IN Israel (so he can later claim that he’s a serious reporter who toured Israel), didn’t even step foot in country, then made up a story that he’s being supposedly harassed by our security (didn’t happen), whined about it, got back into the private jet and flew off.”
He concluded that “next time he talks about Israel as if he’s some expert, just remember this guy is a phony!”
Bottom line
Tucker Carlson traveled to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to interview Mike Huckabee about the treatment of Christians in the country. Carlson claims he was detained and questioned prior to leaving, which is probably technically true.
What this leaves out is that this is basically the standard screening protocol in Israel, and it’s common for passengers to be questioned extensively prior to being able to board a flight out of the country. This would be very different than if you were interrogated prior to boarding a flight in the United States, or Japan, or wherever else.
What do you make of Carlson’s claims about his “detainment” in Israel?
Keep in mind Huckabee when asked about what if Israel took all the land from Iraq to Egypt responded with “It would be fine if they took it all,”. That tells you all you need to know about Huckabee and how in the pocket of Israel he is. Tucker Carlson isn't the most credible guy but if his staff indeed was questioned about the contents of their interview that is really crossing a line. Hard to trust anyone involved in this story.
Lots and lots of information available on the internet, to learn, to diffuse and make one's own conclusions.
C'mon you could learn alot just watching NCIS when Zeva was there (reruns).
At least one commenter (AeroB13a) has noticed that most of the comments from ORD_Is_My_Second_Home were deleted from this page. Ben explained this in a (much appreciated) dialogue in the comments on yesterday's Citi AAdvantage Executive Card post but does not seem to have shared an explanation here, where the issue actually arose. I'll quote his explanation here:
"I made it so that comments from that poster are moderated for some time, and require pre-approval before...
At least one commenter (AeroB13a) has noticed that most of the comments from ORD_Is_My_Second_Home were deleted from this page. Ben explained this in a (much appreciated) dialogue in the comments on yesterday's Citi AAdvantage Executive Card post but does not seem to have shared an explanation here, where the issue actually arose. I'll quote his explanation here:
"I made it so that comments from that poster are moderated for some time, and require pre-approval before they post, to avoid more comments like this."
I got tbh, if he was really questioned about his interview with Huckabee, that’s irrelevant to any security related concerns of Israel. It’s shocking. That the embassy would have defended this blows my mind. And no, not a fan of the agitprop ‘journalist’.
Mr Carlson is a naturally drawn to hyperbole.
I presume that this was IAA, not Customs and Immigration (since he was leaving the country.)
This strongly suggests that his staff or contacts in Israel were inept.
In most cases, high-profile media or political passengers already have a liaison at the airport. Vetting is therefore conducted largely before the passenger ever arrives in Israel. My guess is that nobody on Carlson's team did their...
Mr Carlson is a naturally drawn to hyperbole.
I presume that this was IAA, not Customs and Immigration (since he was leaving the country.)
This strongly suggests that his staff or contacts in Israel were inept.
In most cases, high-profile media or political passengers already have a liaison at the airport. Vetting is therefore conducted largely before the passenger ever arrives in Israel. My guess is that nobody on Carlson's team did their homework nor informed Carlson what to expect.
It is normal for security staff to take a passport for a few minutes. And it is normal to have some questions, but these usually last 60 to 90 seconds. If he was taken to a private room, that was as a courtesy to him.
There are boundless opportunities to impugn the Israeli government. It is reckless, violent, negligent of human rights. There is plenty to deride, hate, and lament. A security interaction at Ben Gurion Airport is the least substantive concern.
Carlson's petty grievance narrative is as tedious as it is ineffective.
The bigger question is why is this “normal entrance and exit from israel” - what behaviour has for decades made it the factually the riskiest country in the world in terms airport security needs?
Hmmm…
Existing. Existing is the behavior that makes it the target of terrorists.
What behavior of the USA caused it to be the victim on 9/11?
Past terrorist activity demonstrated the need for security.
Is it too much to ask for an EL AL trip report, instead of the travails of an opinionated journalist and his encounter with gov't officials?
I mean, he spent years being utterly confused by reality. And of course, the maga TV personality of righteous aggression doesn't play out side of places kowtowing to the USA. Although he's become somewhat less looney, that doesn't mean he's any better at dealing with humanity...
There are two sides to every story. Carlson recounts that his passport was confiscated and that he was hauled into a back room and detained and interrogated by security officials who asked about the contents of his interview with the Ambassador. It is understandable that a journalist (whatever you think of Carlson) would feel uncomfortable being questioned about the contents of an interview while on foreign soil and not in possession of his passport. That...
There are two sides to every story. Carlson recounts that his passport was confiscated and that he was hauled into a back room and detained and interrogated by security officials who asked about the contents of his interview with the Ambassador. It is understandable that a journalist (whatever you think of Carlson) would feel uncomfortable being questioned about the contents of an interview while on foreign soil and not in possession of his passport. That could have easily clouded an ordinary encounter into a hostile one.
But there could be another side to the story. As a (any) passenger departing from TLV--even on a private jet--Carlson was likely subject to questioning by TLV airport security. As a private plane passenger, this would not take place in the public setting of the passenger terminal as it does for the vast majority of those who depart TLV. Naturally it took place in a private location, or a 'side room'. And while the standard TLV-departure questioning occurs, it is not uncommon for airport security to have control of the passenger's passport. It is also not uncommon for TLV airport security to ask about one's trip to the country. Because he only did one thing there, it is unsurprising that they asked about that.
Perhaps their curiosity got the best of them, or perhaps they got objectively a little to nosy with their questions about his journalism, but it doesn't seem like he was singled out like some others have been. Case in point, he does not report being asked about his views on Israel. Notable, the US Embassy said everything was ordinary making me think that TLV security just rubbed a journalist the wrong way.
Good. *ucker Carlson is a stupid SOB.
Good. *akeEskimo is a stupid SOB.
As someone who has experienced the famous TLV hospitality, yeah, he just got the standard Ben Gurion Airport treatment…
The biggest shock to me from this story was that Mike Huckabee is the US Ambassador to Israel. Don't know how I missed that, but I'm happy for him that he finally made it to his Holy Land and I hope he doesn't come back. He should take his wife with him.
Don’t forget his daughter as well.
People who attribute their bigotry to their military service are a disgrace to the uniform and to this country
Don't really care about the Tucker issues. I will say, as someone that has been to about 40 countries, my entry into Israel about 6 years ago was been the only one with challenges. Arrived at midnight, got screened, asked to wait. Then rescreened, and finally allowed to enter the country at about 3 AM. Got to Jerusalem after 4 AM, dead tired. Poor family was stuck waiting for me- they cleared immediately. No past...
Don't really care about the Tucker issues. I will say, as someone that has been to about 40 countries, my entry into Israel about 6 years ago was been the only one with challenges. Arrived at midnight, got screened, asked to wait. Then rescreened, and finally allowed to enter the country at about 3 AM. Got to Jerusalem after 4 AM, dead tired. Poor family was stuck waiting for me- they cleared immediately. No past travel that would prompt a concern. My father's side of the family is even Jewish. Keep this in mind if you travel to Israel and have never been there.
If you are a raving antisemite and travel to Israel expect consequences.
Thanks for the grin and personal perspective ORD. If I said you read like a Jarhead Vet, will that make you “Bigoted” as you put it, towards me? …. :-)
It would appear that some post(s) from ORD have been removed, how so Ben?
Is Carlson making enough money to fly private on long hauls, or is he burning through investor cash?
There's video of him signing something, then putting his arm around the security official and posing for a picture.
Doesn't seem too distressed.
This guy loves to dramatize inconveniences and make them sound like they are personal attacks on freedom. I know first hand of TLV airport and El Al how intense they are, I have a family member who was questioned before flying seemingly randomly, not allowed to wait at the gate with others and was forced to check all carry-on items so that they had nothing with them for the 10 hour + flight. This is...
This guy loves to dramatize inconveniences and make them sound like they are personal attacks on freedom. I know first hand of TLV airport and El Al how intense they are, I have a family member who was questioned before flying seemingly randomly, not allowed to wait at the gate with others and was forced to check all carry-on items so that they had nothing with them for the 10 hour + flight. This is what happens and people who know anything (especially "journalists") should know this. Also I recall his platforming of Canadian "political prisoners" who were "swept up by masked officials and imprisoned for weeks upon landing in Canada" during COVID. Which is to say there was a mandatory quarantine in Canada during COVID for a brief time, something that was publicized and everyone entering was made aware of before entering.... Agree or disagree with the policy but all this information is out there already. An actual journalist would know this.
Now here is a very interesting observation to note Ben …. Your last El Al flight review was in 2017, time to reacquaint yourself perhaps?
Furthermore, you do not appear to have troubled yourself to review any other Israeli airline either …. not Israir, Arkia or TUS evan. Now whatever is one to think Ben?
F*rd is vehemently pro-Palestinian, because that gets they followers on Insta.
That's basically all you need to know. That and, of course, the charming ha-laaam hand movement from they.
His Instagram is private.
Typical Zio crap. So what if Ford has empathy with those being murdered by Satanyahoo and his ilk? Good on him, I'd say. Opposing geno*ide is mandatory if you are a human being. I am surprised the 'anti-semite' trope was not thrown at Ford.
“Indopithecus“ …. Indopithecus giganteus is an extinct species of large ape that lived in the late Miocene of the Siwalik Hills in northern India.
Really, an interesting choice for a login ….
Unfortunately, this is proof that there is no God. Had there been a God, they would have detained his stupid arse and kept him from returning back to the U.S. Unfortunately, the U.S. is stuck with him. Ugghhh.
Blasphemy.
This is god testing your faith.
@JS you failed miserably and god will punish you with death sometime within the next 100 years.
God gave you Trump, Epstein, Hitler, Al Qaeda, Hamas, and wanker AeroB13a etc. for a reason.
Tucker is just another test.
But you failed.
Whomever is behind the EskimoBot logins, is destined to become a very sick and twisted specimen of sub-humanity. We all know the sort, we read about their despicable acts of insane violence against innocent groups of people. The school yard assassins and religious zealots who murder and maim innocent babies, children and their mothers, etc.
“Blasphemy” is a buzzword used by some who believe in the supernatural. It is used as a cover to mask...
Whomever is behind the EskimoBot logins, is destined to become a very sick and twisted specimen of sub-humanity. We all know the sort, we read about their despicable acts of insane violence against innocent groups of people. The school yard assassins and religious zealots who murder and maim innocent babies, children and their mothers, etc.
“Blasphemy” is a buzzword used by some who believe in the supernatural. It is used as a cover to mask their emotions, or, as an excuse before committing acts of violence against others.
The EskimoBot who posts herein is definitely certifiable, stark raving bonkers! Worst of all, a danger to society. Seek help for your mental condition EskimoBot, you really do need it.
My! Oh my, you really do know how to generate clicks Ben. Clicks from all those people who believe in the supernatural, the religious bigots, political fanatics, the anti semites and those who support Muslim terrorists. Whatever next, I fear to speculate.
Give me strength, I shake my head in wonderment and await the dubious pleasure of the forthcoming contributions from 1990Bot …. :-(
"[W]e were the ones who invented the pogrom, so if the Jews step out of line, we can deal with that."
More disgusting genocidal rhetoric from this poster. There is absolutely no reason for Ben to allow this commenter to continue posting here.
At this point I Think Ben either agrees with, or is happy about the engagement comments like this generate, even when he himself is a target
"So I believe Carlson just doesn’t fully understand how security usually works at the airport"
Lying. The word you're looking for is "Lying".
He wasn't detained. The US, Israel and Occam's razor have all independently confirmed that.
He's tries to fabricate a "scene" which a tabloid was happy to pick up on with zero vetting, just so he can be a "victim". It's all performative. He's a 60 year old Greta Thunberg.
Tucker being Tucker. Making fake news. He knew exactly what he was doing or he would have actually attempted to enter the country.
H'm somehow if this had been Mark Levin I think this would have gone down differently.
How is this relevant to a travel and financial institution focused blog?
Tucker Carlson appears to have been dropped on his head. And then picked up and dropped on his head again. And then picked up and dropped on his head again.
He’s not particularly smart. He’s not particularly intuitive. But you can give him props for finding the grift that gets him the most money.
I'd really like to give this a pass. I'm being asked to decide who I believe:
Mike Huckabee
Tucker Carlson
The Government of Israel
Ben, i’m curious. Given how much of your living is dependent on being able to freely travel, do you find that you are more reluctant to write critical pieces on matters that could cause you future travel delays or cancellations.
The most direct example here would be a negative piece on EL AL or an Airport in Israel. But I don’t want to make this about just Israel. I could see hesitancy in being...
Ben, i’m curious. Given how much of your living is dependent on being able to freely travel, do you find that you are more reluctant to write critical pieces on matters that could cause you future travel delays or cancellations.
The most direct example here would be a negative piece on EL AL or an Airport in Israel. But I don’t want to make this about just Israel. I could see hesitancy in being critical of businesses and infrastructure in other countries as well… Chinese airlines/airports, Russian airports, etc…
Any sane person would make some type of calculation… and I’d be interested to read how you make yours.
Complaining about El Al is the national pastime in Israel.
You're asking someone who already self banned himself from Egypt?
Not a fan of Carlson and I don't think he is necessarily speaking truth about what happened.
But not sure I agree with the premise that this is normal procedure at TLV having been through it many times.
At least not for people who dont fit the profile of a potential terrorist or foreign intelligence and Israelis are very good at profiling.
He probably would have been tailed anyway within the premises given the high...
Not a fan of Carlson and I don't think he is necessarily speaking truth about what happened.
But not sure I agree with the premise that this is normal procedure at TLV having been through it many times.
At least not for people who dont fit the profile of a potential terrorist or foreign intelligence and Israelis are very good at profiling.
He probably would have been tailed anyway within the premises given the high profile and the interview listened to.
He is not a fan of the country and Israel just let him know they aren't a fan of him either. If he spoke the truth about his experience.
Israel profiles very well, and if you're Jewish you get the royal treatment. If you're not Jewish you're subjected to more scrutiny. Whether we think this is fair or not, it's why the state was set up. Non-Jews have to prove their loyalty to a state set up for Jews.
Some other states which favour a certain religion have similar practices, but I don't think I've ever experienced it at the same level as Israel
Try being a Jew and travelling to most Moslem Countries.
Scrutiny is reserved strictly for those that might be planning or duped into terrorist activity. A prime example would be the British newly wed wife of an Israeli Arab that flew alone via El Al. Security located a bomb in hew luggage, placed there by hew new husband who travelled on a different flight. This happened at LHR.
There is no royal treatment,...
Try being a Jew and travelling to most Moslem Countries.
Scrutiny is reserved strictly for those that might be planning or duped into terrorist activity. A prime example would be the British newly wed wife of an Israeli Arab that flew alone via El Al. Security located a bomb in hew luggage, placed there by hew new husband who travelled on a different flight. This happened at LHR.
There is no royal treatment, you are simply considered a terrorist until it can be definitively ruled out.
"Tucker Carlson is a polarizing conservative figure, and in recent times, he has become a pretty vocal critic of Israel, including of the country’s actions in Gaza."
Dude, this is pretty disgusting whitewashing of the guy's platforming of bona fide antisemites. You should reconsider.
Not too mention his virulent homophobia and general white supremacy. Guy is a genuine neo-Nazi in a nice suit.
What are whites worse at than non-whites?
Says Eliyahu...lol
Softball interviews of self-proclaimed neo-Nazis like Nick Fuentes don't do much to rehabilitate his reputation, Matt.
Yeah, do you have a problem with that?
Why would he want to go to an apartheid country doesn't make sense? Oh. He is a journalist after all. Plus if you're MAGA how can you support Israel. See USS Liberty and look up Jonathan Pollard. Thanks to Tucker and Charlie K for exposing Israel.
Israel is not an apartheid Country. Any sane person that has been there knows that. Israelis come in every color. Israeli Arabs have full rights and hold every possible position in employment and Government representatives.
Pollard simply made Israel aware of facts they were entitled to be told (by signed agreements) but were withheld by Washington slime. Part of his severe sentence was because they had a mole and later verified Pollard was not...
Israel is not an apartheid Country. Any sane person that has been there knows that. Israelis come in every color. Israeli Arabs have full rights and hold every possible position in employment and Government representatives.
Pollard simply made Israel aware of facts they were entitled to be told (by signed agreements) but were withheld by Washington slime. Part of his severe sentence was because they had a mole and later verified Pollard was not the mole.
As a Husband and wife both having 9/11 cancers, I do remember 9/11 and the Arab Moslem perpetrators, the ones you want to side with.
Moe. Obviously you're paid by Israel to come up with muck. It's a proven racist apartheid state. It comes out of their own mouths. Obviously you come from the "honey, who arw you going to believe, me or your lying eyes" as the husband gets caught screwing the babysitter. The world is not stupid and we see hate and racism coming out of Israel daily.
1, I am paid by nobody for stating the real truth.
2, Proven by whom? by you?
3, Unlike you, I am proud to have never cheated on my wife.
4, Real racism is people like you that spout rubbish based on what is being stated by all the demonstrators and jactivists (journalist activists). Of course, while Israel did not do anything beyond fight a war they did not start, other things...
1, I am paid by nobody for stating the real truth.
2, Proven by whom? by you?
3, Unlike you, I am proud to have never cheated on my wife.
4, Real racism is people like you that spout rubbish based on what is being stated by all the demonstrators and jactivists (journalist activists). Of course, while Israel did not do anything beyond fight a war they did not start, other things have happened. Simply put, for all the concern about suffering people, never a thought about tens of thousands that really dies of starvation in Sudan. Nary a thought about thousands murdered in Iran in the past month.
Blame the jews is the motto of anti-Jews that simply don't know better.
More,
There you go again trying to deflect the issue. The topic is racist and apartheid state Israel not Sudan or Iran. Stick to the issue. Typical Israeli response from you, probably an American or European without a single drop of middle Eastern blood, like 98% of those claiming Israeli citizenship. By the way, Palestinians are a Semitic people. Do your research please. The world is really tired of racists and supremacist and apartheid state israel.
Mr. Maga Joe,
I am not deflecting, I am just asking why the world of useful idiots never shows concern for the other people starving or being killed. The only difference is that those situations can not be connected to Israel.
The topic was apartheid which is nonsensical to anybody that ever visited israel.
The world is tired of fools that know nothing about that part of the world. All Jews born...
Mr. Maga Joe,
I am not deflecting, I am just asking why the world of useful idiots never shows concern for the other people starving or being killed. The only difference is that those situations can not be connected to Israel.
The topic was apartheid which is nonsensical to anybody that ever visited israel.
The world is tired of fools that know nothing about that part of the world. All Jews born of Jewish heritage share DNA, whether you recognize the science or not. While not pertinent, around 50% of Israelis are Sephardic, which usually implies a background of Middle Eastern heritage. All the Jews that were forced from their homes in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iran and other Countries, are they really European?
In discussions with knowledgeable people I usually use the term Anti-Jew since, indeed, all parties here are Semitic people.
The world is tired of useful fools that blame Israel for a war that they did not want and did not start.
If rape and murder is your condoned activity, don' start with Israel.
Tucker Carlson is an entitled moron with a case of brain syphillis that should have been subjected to a cavity search broadcast on the airport's television screens.
MIGA!
Tucker Carlson is a TikToker in a blue blazer. Everything he says & does is for attention.
Speaking of Israel, El Al announced a bunch of new routes including some longhauls to Asia (Manila, Hanoi, Seoul), not sure if you want to cover them.