Tucker Carlson’s brief visit to Israel erupted into a public dispute on Wednesday after the anti-Israel commentator alleged that he and his staff were “detained” and subjected to unusual questioning by Israeli authorities — a claim firmly rejected by the U.S. embassy, which said he underwent routine procedures. Carlson provided no evidence to support his account.

Carlson traveled to Tel Aviv for a highly anticipated interview with former U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee, who had challenged him to a face-to-face conversation following Carlson’s recent criticism of Israel’s treatment of Christians and its military operations in Gaza. The two have known each other for decades, and Huckabee framed the meeting as an opportunity to air disagreements directly.

But shortly after the taping, Carlson told the Daily Mail that airport security had confiscated his passport and taken his executive producer into a side room for questioning. According to his account, officials demanded details about what he discussed with Huckabee. Carlson described the experience as “bizarre” and said his team left the country immediately afterward.

His public complaints followed criticism from  commentators who accused him of remaining inside the airport rather than engaging more broadly with the country during his short visit. Former ambassador David Friedman mocked him online, suggesting Carlson intentionally avoided touring Israel despite multiple invitations.

Behind the scenes, two sources told the Daily Mail that the Israeli government initially considered blocking Carlson’s entry, prompting quiet negotiations involving the State Department. Israel ultimately allowed him to proceed in order to avoid what one local report described as a potential diplomatic incident.

A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Israel flatly rejected Carlson’s account of being detained. The spokesperson said Carlson was simply asked routine passport-control questions – the same ones posed to countless travelers, diplomats, and even Huckabee himself – and insisted there was nothing unusual about the encounter. The embassy added that it had no involvement in Carlson’s movements other than coordinating the landing of his private plane.

“It is not accurate that Israel only was going to let Tucker into the country for the interview,” the spokesperson said, adding that Carlson opted on his own to stay only a few hours. “He received the same positive treatment as any visitor to Israel.”

The interview itself came after Carlson accused Huckabee on his YouTube program of failing to do enough to protect Christians in Israel. Huckabee publicly invited him to discuss the matter in person rather than through media commentary, an invitation Carlson accepted. Their sit-down was reportedly encouraged by figures in former President Donald Trump’s orbit, who are working to reduce internal Republican tensions over Israel.

Trump, according to former Fox News anchor Melissa Francis, has urged Carlson and others to help “turn down the temperature” within the party. Carlson remains a close ally of Trump and Vice President JD Vance and has recently been in and out of the White House for discussions on foreign policy.