U.S. Ambassador to Israel Responds to Trump’s Comments

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee speaks at the 'Jerusalem Summit' event held at the Israeli Foreign Ministry on June 11. [Photo=Reuters]

Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, publicly refuted comments made by President Donald Trump and checked the president's social media to confirm whether he had been dismissed. Trump stated, "If it weren't for me, there would be no Israel," prompting Huckabee to respond that without Israel and its Jewish foundations, the United States would not exist either.

On June 21, Huckabee spoke at an event in Jerusalem, saying, "Before coming here today, I did something important. I checked Trump’s social media to see if this would be my last speech in Israel." He added, "The president usually fires people via social media at midnight, so I wanted to be sure I had a reason to be here. Fortunately, I’m still safe," he joked.

The controversy began during a meeting between Trump and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on June 16, when Trump remarked, "If it weren't for me, there would be no Israel," asserting that no other president would have done what he did.

In response, Huckabee stated at an international conference on Israeli heritage held in the Judea and Samaria region, "This is undoubtedly your heritage, but it is also America’s heritage. Without Israel and its Jewish foundations, the United States would not exist."

Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, is known for his strong pro-Israel stance. He has recently garnered attention for his comments aligning closely with Israel's position amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Iran and Lebanon.

* This article has been translated by AI.

AJP