President Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel.
“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, has been nominated to be The United States Ambassador to Israel,” Trump announced.
“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. 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!” he added.
From the Associated Press:
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.
🚨 #BREAKING: President Trump has just announce he’s nominating Fmr. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel
Trump says Mike “loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in… pic.twitter.com/LdpetQkoGP
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 12, 2024
🚨Just in: President Trump has officially announced that Mike Huckabee will be the United States Ambassador to Israel. pic.twitter.com/68V6jdyCd8
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) November 12, 2024
Per USA TODAY:
Trump has expressed steadfast support for Israel more than one year into its war in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. As president, Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and was considered a strong ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Huckabee, a Baptist minister and former Fox News host, served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for president in 2008 and in 2016 against Trump. Huckabee currently hosts a show on the religious broadcast network TBN.
Huckabee’s daughter, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, served as White House press secretary during Trump’s first presidency.