Tucker Carlson looked visibly stunned when Trump’s ambassador revealed his vision for what Israel’s borders could look like

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made striking comments about Israel’s potential borders during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. Carlson was pressing Huckabee on Israel’s geographical boundaries, which the ambassador believes are rooted in biblical texts.

According to Al Jazeera, Carlson brought up a biblical verse that promises land to the descendants of Abraham, covering the vast area between the Euphrates River in Iraq and the Nile River in Egypt. Such a territory would include modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia. Huckabee, appointed by President Donald Trump last year, responded directly: “It would be fine if they took it all.”

The comment visibly caught Carlson off guard, and he asked Huckabee to clarify whether he truly supported Israel expanding across the entire region. Huckabee walked it back, saying, “They don’t want to take it over. They’re not asking to take it over.” He later admitted his initial remark was “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement,” but still left the door open, adding, “If they end up getting attacked by all these places, and they win that war, and they take that land, OK, that’s a whole other discussion.”

Huckabee’s remarks put him at odds with international law and legal institutions

These comments conflict with a core principle of international law established after World War II, which prohibits acquiring territory by force. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and must end immediately.

Israel currently occupies the Golan Heights in Syria, a territory it illegally annexed in 1981, with the US being the only country that recognizes Israel’s claim there. These border tensions are also playing out across the wider region, as Iran’s stance on US negotiations in the Middle East continues to shape diplomatic dynamics.

The idea of a “Greater Israel” is not new, Netanyahu and other Israeli politicians have openly supported it. In 2023, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich caused an international outcry when he spoke at an event featuring a map that showed Palestinian territories and portions of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan as part of Israel, displayed against the Israeli flag.

In the same interview, Huckabee argued that Israel’s right to exist is grounded in international law, while also criticizing the legal institutions that govern it. He said, “One of the reasons I’m so grateful President Trump and Secretary Rubio are pushing hard, trying to get rid of the ICC [International Criminal Court] and the ICJ is because they have become rogue organizations that are no longer really about an equal application of law.”

Huckabee has also faced criticism for not standing up for US citizens killed and imprisoned by Israeli forces. He drew further backlash after meeting with Jonathan Pollard, a former US Navy analyst who sold intelligence secrets to Israel.

As the Trump administration faces scrutiny on multiple fronts, Trump’s handling of key economic concerns has also drawn significant public attention. Huckabee clarified he held a pre-approved meeting with Pollard at the US embassy in Jerusalem, stating, “He was able to come to the US embassy to have a meeting at his request. I did, and frankly, I don’t regret it.”