Statements from the U.S. State Department or the White House

Trump Nominates Mike Huckabee as First Evangelical U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Ending Two-State Solution Prospects

Dec 2, 2024, 07:52 PM

Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and pastor, has been nominated by President Trump to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee's nomination is seen as a significant development in the longstanding evangelical support for Israel, which has evolved over the past 60 years. If confirmed, he would become the first evangelical to hold this position. Huckabee has previously articulated a strong bond with Israel, emphasizing shared values such as religious liberty and democratic governance. However, his nomination has raised concerns among critics, who argue that his views could undermine the two-state solution, as he reportedly does not recognize the existence of Palestinians and believes that the land was divinely granted to the Jewish people thousands of years ago.