"It Would Be Fine If They Took It All": U.S. Ambassador Huckabee's Explosive Remarks on Israeli Expansion
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made a series of striking and controversial statements during a lengthy interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, suggesting that he would have no theological objection to Israel expanding its territory to encompass the entire biblical land described in Genesis — an area stretching from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Iraq, which would encompass modern-day Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, large parts of Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
When pressed by Carlson on the theological underpinnings of Christian Zionism and whether the biblical promise in Genesis 15 — which describes a covenant land from the Nile to the Euphrates — granted Israel a moral right to all of that territory today, Huckabee replied: "It would be fine if they took it all."
The remark, which immediately drew follow-up questions from Carlson, was quickly walked back by the ambassador. Huckabee described the comment as "somewhat hyperbolic" and clarified that he did not believe Israel was actively seeking to occupy neighboring countries. "They're not trying to take over Jordan. They're not trying to take over Syria. They're not trying to take over Iraq or anywhere else," he added.But the damage was done. The statement — coming from the sitting U.S. Ambassador to Israel and a close ally of President Trump — is likely to send shockwaves through diplomatic circles in the Middle East and beyond.
A Theological Justification for Expansion?
Much of the interview centered on the theological and philosophical basis of Christian Zionism, the belief held by many evangelical Christians that the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and that Jewish people have a God-given right to the land.
Huckabee, who describes himself as an evangelical Christian and proudly noted he is "the first evangelical to be ambassador to Israel," repeatedly cited biblical scripture as a cornerstone of Israel's legitimacy. He invoked Genesis 12:3 — "I will bless those who bless you, curse those who curse you" — and argued that the Jewish people have a "biblical, historical, and ethnic" connection to the land that stretches back 3,800 years.
When Carlson pushed back by pointing out that Genesis 15 describes a land promise far larger than the current state of Israel — one that would encompass virtually the entire Levant and parts of Mesopotamia — Huckabee did not initially dispute the theological point. It was in that context that he made his now-controversial remark that it "would be fine" if Israel took all of that land.
Carlson Presses on the West Bank and Borders
The interview also touched directly on Israel's present-day territorial situation. When Carlson noted that "the borders are moving" and referenced the West Bank — which Huckabee referred to by the biblical names "Judea and Samaria" — the ambassador appeared comfortable with the framing of Israeli sovereignty over those territories.
Huckabee described the borders of Judea and Samaria as spanning "west of the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea to the Lebanon border," a definition that would encompass the entire West Bank. He made no clear distinction between Israel's internationally recognized borders and territories that most of the world considers occupied under international law.
When Carlson questioned whether Israel had a "right to this land," Huckabee was notably reluctant to define the borders precisely. "The borders are moving," he conceded at one point — an acknowledgment that the situation on the ground is fluid.
"A Hyperbolic Statement" — But Was It?
After initially suggesting Israeli expansion across the broader biblical region "would be fine," Huckabee retreated when Carlson pressed him directly: "I'm asking — is that what you said?"
"That's really not exactly what I'm trying to say," Huckabee replied. He insisted that the conversation was about Israel's right to the land it currently occupies and its need for security and safety, not a call for military conquest of neighboring nations.
Still, critics are likely to argue that an ambassador of the United States has no business suggesting — even hyperbolically — that a U.S. ally would be justified in seizing the territory of multiple sovereign nations. The region described in Genesis 15 that was being discussed would encompass countries with which the United States has formal diplomatic and security relationships.
Broader Context: A U.S. Ambassador Who "Represents Israel"?
Carlson himself was scathing in his framing of the interview, suggesting in his introduction that Huckabee was "not really in charge" and appeared to be "representing the Israelis" rather than American interests. He said Huckabee seemed "constrained" and "unable to say certain things" that might "reflect poorly on the Israeli government."
The interview also covered a wide range of other contentious topics, including Huckabee's meeting with Jonathan Pollard — widely described as the most damaging spy in modern American history — a controversy over accused American sex offenders allegedly sheltered in Israel, and the ongoing U.S. approach to potential military conflict with Iran.
On the question of West Bank settlements, Huckabee confirmed that he was personally aware of individuals — including Christians with Jewish heritage — who had exercised what he described as a right of return to settle in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas the international community largely regards as illegally occupied Palestinian territory.
Reaction
The remarks have yet to draw an official response from the State Department or the White House. Regional analysts and Middle East policy experts are expected to weigh in on the potential diplomatic fallout, particularly given rising tensions across the region and ongoing negotiations over Gaza.
Palestinian officials and Arab governments are likely to view the ambassador's theological framing of land rights — combined with his statement about expanded Israeli territory being "fine" — as deeply alarming. Several Arab nations have recently engaged in cautious normalization diplomacy with Israel, a process that hinges on a clear U.S. commitment to two-state principles and respect for existing sovereign borders.
For now, Huckabee's words hang over a region already on edge — a reminder that in Washington's relationship with Jerusalem, theology and geopolitics are rarely far apart.