WASHINGTON, Feb 21, 2026 — US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has sparked widespread debate after saying it “would be fine” if Israel took control of territory described in a biblical passage as stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates, comments he later described as theological and hyperbolic rather than reflective of US policy.
Huckabee made the remarks during an appearance on The Tucker Carlson Show, hosted by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. The interview focused on religion, Israel’s modern borders and the broader relationship between biblical texts and contemporary geopolitics.
During the discussion, Carlson read aloud from the Book of Genesis, which describes land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants. Carlson noted that the territory outlined in the passage extends well beyond the current internationally recognised borders of Israel and would encompass large parts of what is now the Middle East.
“So God gave that land — basically the entire Middle East,” Carlson said, before asking whether Israel therefore had a right to such territory.
“It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee replied.
The exchange quickly drew attention online after video clips were widely circulated on social media platforms and cited by news outlets.
Carlson then pressed Huckabee on whether that interpretation would include modern states such as Jordan and others within the region. Huckabee responded that Israel was not seeking to annex neighbouring countries and was not pursuing territorial expansion.
“They don’t want to take it,” Huckabee said. “They’re not asking to take it over.”
As reaction mounted, Huckabee sought to clarify his position, describing his earlier statement as “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement” made within the context of a theological discussion. He emphasised that he was not outlining US foreign policy or advocating for the redrawing of international borders.
According to Huckabee, Israel’s current priority is security and survival rather than territorial conquest. He said the discussion had centred on religious interpretation, not on practical or diplomatic objectives.
The comments nevertheless touched on highly sensitive regional dynamics. The phrase referring to land “from the Nile to the Euphrates” has long been associated with certain religious and ideological interpretations of Israel’s biblical inheritance. Critics argue that such references can inflame tensions in a region already marked by complex political disputes and ongoing conflict.
Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, has frequently framed his support for Israel in religious as well as political terms throughout his public career. Before becoming ambassador, he served as governor of Arkansas and was a prominent figure in US conservative politics, often citing biblical texts when discussing Middle East issues.
He was appointed ambassador by US President Donald Trump and confirmed to the diplomatic post in 2025. The Trump administration has maintained strong support for Israel, while also navigating shifting alliances and tensions across the Middle East.
The interview remarks come at a time of heightened regional sensitivity, with debates over borders, security arrangements and sovereignty continuing to dominate political discourse. Although Huckabee clarified that his statement was theological rather than prescriptive, the episode underscores how religious language in diplomatic contexts can generate significant political reaction.
US officials have not indicated any change in formal policy regarding Israel’s borders or territorial claims. However, the viral nature of the interview has reignited discussion about the intersection of faith, rhetoric and statecraft in American diplomacy toward the Middle East.
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