Trump nominates Mike Huckabee for US ambassador to Israel

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is the choice to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel in the incoming Trump administration, President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday. 

Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, is another in a growing list of strong Israel supporters announced or reported to be in Trump's next administration. Trump has promised to strengthen U.S. ties with Israel as it fights wars against Iran-backed terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. 

"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 said in a statement.

"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!"

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Huckabee served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He previously sought the Republican nomination for president in both 2008 and 2016, winning the 2008 Iowa caucuses in a surprise victory. Between presidential runs, Huckabee was the host of the Fox News show "Huckabee" from 2008 to 2015. 

He is the father of current Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who formerly served as White House press secretary in the first Trump administration. 

Sanders said she was "unbelievably proud" to learn that her father was nominated to serve in the Trump administration.

"I went to Israel for the first time with my dad when I was eleven and it changed my life. There is no one President Trump could have picked with a greater love for the Israeli people and commitment to the unbreakable bond between America and Israel than him," she posted on X. "Love you dad!"

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Huckabee has led paid tour group visits to Israel for years, frequently advertising the trips on conservative-leaning news outlets. He has defended Israeli settlements in the West Bank and expressed skepticism of the Palestinian statehood movement in public statements, saying in 2008 that "there's no such thing as a Palestinian." 

He repeated the claim in a 2015 interview with The Washington Post, stating, "The idea that they have a long history, dating back hundreds or thousands of years, is not true." 

David Friedman, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Israel in his first term, said he was "thrilled" by Huckabee's nomination in a statement.

"He is a dear friend and he will have my full support," said Friedman. "Congrats Mike on getting the best job in the world!" 

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Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed the appointment in a statement. 

"I look forward to working with you to strengthen the bond between our peoples," Sa'ar said. "As a longstanding friend of Israel and our eternal capital Jerusalem - I hope you will feel very much at home."

Huckabee's nomination adds to the list of Israel allies in the incoming Trump administration, following Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.'s nomination to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's nomination to be the next Secretary of State. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.