Mike Huckabee discusses the viral exchange with Tucker Carlson about biblical land claims alongside Steve Deace.

Interview Highlights: Tucker Carlson and Mike Huckabee

In a lengthy interview released on February 20, Tucker Carlson questioned U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on a variety of subjects. The conversation touched on the Biblical claim involving a territory “from the Nile to the Euphrates,” the civilian casualties in Gaza, U.S. support for Israel, and the role of Christian Zionism, leading to a tense dialogue. This exchange underscored the divisions within conservative circles in America regarding foreign policy, especially concerning the tension between “America First” ideals and unwavering support for Israel.

During a recent episode of “The Steve Deace Show,” host Steve Deace discussed Huckabee’s interview with Carlson.

“Overall, how was it?” Deace queried.

“The interview went okay,” Huckabee responded. “But I often struggled to follow his questions, which was frustrating. Typically, when he interviews guests, he talks for about 35% of the time while letting them speak for the rest. But with both Ted Cruz and me, he kept interrupting and veering off topic.” Huckabee elaborated.

Deace then focused on a particularly notable moment from the interview. Carlson referenced Genesis 15, which mentions that Abraham’s offspring would inhabit a region extending “from the Euphrates to the Nile,” a substantial part of present-day Middle Eastern territory. Carlson asked Huckabee if this suggested a divine entitlement for Israel to claim all of its modern territory.

In reply, Huckabee indicated that he thought “everything would be fine,” yet he immediately clarified that there was no intentional movement for Israel to expand. “There’s definitely a shared view on both sides of this argument but…” Deace replied, allowing Huckabee to “clarify” his position.

“He was pushing me, trying to provoke a response that Israel would conquer all the way from the Euphrates to the Nile…and I ended up joking, ‘Yes, they can have everything,'” Huckabee recounted. “Right after that, I said, ‘Tucker, Israel just aims to safeguard the land of Canaan, which is what they have now.’”

He underscored that Israel does not plan to extend its borders into neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, or Egypt, including Gaza.

“Tucker took that remark and shared it with the Arab community, where it was met with outrage and fierce condemnation,” Huckabee explained.

“If you didn’t catch part of my reply, it might seem like I was flippantly saying, ‘Sure, let them have all of it,’ but if you grasp the full context, the interpretation changes entirely,” he continued.