Middle East furious after Trump ally says Israel should own them

On 21 February, we reported on disturbing comments from the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Our focus was that Huckabee wants the world to pay Israel reparations for the genocide it inflicted upon Gaza. It’s another comment from Huckabee which has caused international controversy, however, especially in the Middle East:

🚨 BREAKING: Mike Huckabee just triggered a full-blown diplomatic backlash.

After saying it would be “fine” for Israel to take over the Middle East, 14 countries + major regional blocs publicly condemned him.

Jordan. UAE. Saudi Arabia. Egypt. Türkiye. Indonesia. Qatar. Lebanon.… pic.twitter.com/KuCsIh6TMz

— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) February 21, 2026

The Middle East United

As we reported yesterday, Huckabee is an American evangelist:

Many American evangelicals support Israel, but not because they like Israelis. In actuality, they think the creation of Israel is a signifier that the end times are approaching, and that Israel will trigger the Rapture.

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, the ‘Rapture’ is the time when God calls his faithful back to heaven. Said ‘faithful’ will not include the Jewish men and women who live in Israel, even if they do play an instrumental role in jump starting the Armageddon.

While it’s perfectly possible for faithful people to serve in government, it’s a different story for zealots. The response to Huckabee’s comments demonstrate why that is.

The following is what Huckabee said:

mike huckabee cares more about the greater israel project than he does about americans. he cares more about israel than the majority of american jews. totally insane person. https://t.co/BjbooXPuXI

— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) February 21, 2026

In the clip, Carlson makes it clear that Huckabee’s vision of an expanded Israel would mean the overthrow of every sovereign country in the Middle East. Huckabee says he would be “fine if they took it all”.

You know your interview with Tucker Carlson could have gone better when you united the entire Muslim world (probably for the first time ever) in condemnation. https://t.co/pZeZUAKbO4

— Shaiel Ben-Ephraim (@academic_la) February 21, 2026

Just imagine the response if a Chinese ambassador said he would be fine with Mexico taking over all 50 US states.

The problem for Donald Trump is that he’s sought to have good relations with the wealthier Middle Eastern countries. Now, Saudi Arabia and others have made it clear they’re furious with the Trump regime’s messaging:

The worst US diplomatic blunder in recent memory. Huckabee just set our relations in the M.E. back decades and destroyed any trust they may have in the US.
This is what happens when you hire maniacal religious zealots to represent you overseas.
Huckabee must go immediately before… https://t.co/p1jw5K3Pmm

— Daniel McAdams (@DanielLMcAdams) February 21, 2026

Alliances

Obviously it’s a problem that the West is most comfortable with the wealthy Middle Eastern countries which use literal slaves. At the same time, Huckabee’s comments have just made it more difficult for the US to wage another devastating war in the Middle East: