Donald Trump nominates Mike Huckabee to be US ambassador to Israel
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he is nominating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be his U.S. ambassador to Israel, tapping a pro-Israel evangelical Christian to help steer foreign policy in the Middle East with the region in crisis.
The appointment of the 69-year-old Huckabee comes as Israel faces international pressure to scale back its war in Gaza more than one year after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Trump will inherit a widening Middle East conflict after Israel and Iran have traded airstrikes in recent weeks.
Huckabee has previously signaled he opposes negotiating a cease-fire deal with Hamas, arguing the only way to end the war is for the Islamist militant group to surrender.
"Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years," Trump said in a statement. "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!"
Trump also named Steven Witkoff, a New York real estate tycoon, his special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff, co-chair of Trump's inaugural committee and a regular Trump golf partner, was with the president-elect when he was the target of a second attempted assassination at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida in September. Witkoff has played a key role helping connect Trump with the Jewish business community.
Trump has expressed steadfast support for Israel in its war against Hamas. As president, Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and helped broker the 2020 Abraham Accords, which expanded Israel's diplomatic relations in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has spoken to Trump three times since Trump defeated Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in last week's election. The two men also communicated during the 2024 campaign. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is defeated and all hostages are released.
Trump announced the Huckabee pick while Israeli President Issac Herzog was at the White House visiting outgoing President Joe Biden.
Touting his support for Israel, Trump in September called himself "a protector" of Israel and warned the Jewish state would cease to exist if Harris won. Trump in April said Israel needs to "finish what they started" in Gaza but also said Israel is "losing the PR war" with the images of bloodshed coming out of Gaza, where the Palestinian death toll has passed 43,000.
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 has little diplomatic experience, but he was among a group of evangelicals who visited Israel in December in a show of support.
In June, Huckabee told NewsNation there is "no valid reason" to pursue a cease-fire with Hamas, which the Biden administration has worked for months to secure.
"There’s no valid reason to have a cease-fire with Hamas. They’re not capable of having an honorable negotiation," Huckabee said, accusing the terrorist organization of pretending to listen to cease-fire details but always rejecting a deal.
“This is like trying to negotiate with the Nazis in World War II. You just don’t,” Huckabee said. “You beat them. You defeat them. You eradicate them.”
Huckabee's daughter, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, served as White House press secretary during Trump's first presidency.
The Republican Jewish Coalition lauded the pick.
"As a man of deep faith, we know Governor Huckabee’s abounding love of Israel and its people is second to none," the lobbying group said in a statement. "As the Jewish state continues to fight an existential war for survival against Iran and its terrorist proxies, Governor Huckabee will represent America’s ironclad commitment to Israel’s security with distinction."
Trump's former U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, also praised the selection. "I am thrilled by President Trump’s nomination of Governor Mike Huckabee as the next Ambassador to Israel. He is a dear friend and he will have my full support. Congrats Mike on getting the best job in the world!" Friedman said in a post on X.
Trump has filled at least seven other positions since his White House victory.
The incoming Republican president's hires include his senior 2024 campaign adviser Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff; Elise Stefanik was nominated to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; longtime immigration advisor Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy; Tom Homan was picked to oversee deportation policy and aviation security; former New York congressman Lee Zeldin was nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency; and Florida Rep. Mike Waltz was named national security adviser.
Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Huckabee nominated by Trump to be US ambassador to Israel