US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said it “would be fine” if Israel took control of territory described in a biblical passage as stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates, remarks he made during a televised interview that sparked broad attention after excerpts circulated online.

Huckabee made the comments during an appearance on The Tucker Carlson Show, hosted by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. The discussion centered on religious texts, Israel’s modern borders, and the relationship between theology and geopolitics.

During the interview, Carlson read aloud a passage from the Book of Genesis that describes land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants, noting that the territory outlined in the text extends far beyond the current borders of Israel and would cover much of the modern Middle East.

Carlson said the description would encompass large parts of what is now the Middle East and asked Huckabee whether Israel therefore had a right to that land.

“So God gave that land — basically the entire Middle East,” Carlson said, asking Huckabee whether Israel therefore had a right to that territory.

“It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee replied.

Carlson then followed up by asking whether such an interpretation would include present-day countries such as Jordan. Huckabee responded that Israel was not seeking to take control of neighboring states and was not pursuing territorial expansion.

“They don’t want to take it,” Huckabee said. “They’re not asking to take it over.”

As the discussion continued, Huckabee sought to place his earlier remark in context, saying the statement was exaggerated. He described it as “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement” and said the conversation was not about Israel expanding into surrounding countries.

Huckabee emphasized that Israel’s focus was on security and survival rather than conquest, and that his comments were made in the context of a theological discussion rather than as a policy statement.

Huckabee said Israel was concerned with defending the land it currently controls and ensuring safety for its population, not redrawing borders based on biblical claims.

The discussion reflected Huckabee’s longstanding tendency to frame his views on Israel in religious terms. An ordained Baptist minister, Huckabee has frequently referenced biblical texts when discussing Israel and has previously described his support for the country as rooted in both faith and politics.

Huckabee was appointed US ambassador to Israel by President Donald Trump and was confirmed to the post in 2025. He previously served as governor of Arkansas and has been a vocal supporter of Israel for decades.

The remarks drew attention after clips from the interview were shared widely on social media and cited by news outlets following the broadcast.