Trump picks former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel
President-elect Donald Trump, a steadfast ally of Israel, is already taking steps to reinforce support for the nation.
EEW Magazine Online // Associated Press
Mike Huckabee with Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign. (Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel, Trump announced Tuesday.
Huckabee is a staunch Christian and defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it wages wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years,” Trump said in a statement. “He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”
Huckabee has led paid tour group visits to Israel for years, frequently advertising the trips on conservative-leaning news outlets.
David Friedman, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Israel in his first term, said he was “thrilled” by Trump’s selection of Huckabee.
Since leaving office in 2007, the 69-year-old Baptist minister and former Fox News host has maintained a presence in conservative media and briefly ran for president in 2016. Following Trump’s 2016 election, Huckabee mentioned discussing a potential Cabinet role with the president-elect, though he ultimately felt it was not “the right fit.” He was also reportedly considered for the role of U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Support for Israel is a cornerstone of foreign policy beliefs for many evangelical Christians, a sentiment Huckabee has championed throughout his career due to his longstanding ties with the country.
“Evangelicals and so many people support Israel so much more. It's not just a Jewish people, it's so many Christians are so supportive of Israel,” Trump noted at a “Believers and Ballots” town hall in Georgia last month.
Israel will likely remain a focal point during the early months of Trump’s upcoming administration, continuing the heightened attention it has received since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which escalated into a broader regional conflict.
