The U.S. Senate confirmed former Arkansas governor and Baptist pastor Mike Huckabee as the Trump administration’s ambassador to Israel on Wednesday (April 10), in a 53–46 vote largely along party lines. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) reportedly was the only Democrat to support the confirmation.
Rising tensions
Huckabee’s appointment comes amid ongoing regional tensions, including the Israel-Hamas war and U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the confirmation, referring to Huckabee as a “dear friend” and praising the move as a win for the Israeli-American alliance.
Known for his Baptist roots, Huckabee served as pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, from 1980–86, and the Beech Street First Baptist Church in Texarkana, from 1986–1992. He also hosted “Huckabee” for seven years on Trinity Broadcasting Network, which aired the show’s last episode January 2024.
During his Senate hearing, Huckabee pledged to carry out the current administration’s policies despite remarks that have drawn some pushback from critics, including opposition to the two-state solution and referring to the West Bank as “Judea and Samaria,” the Associated Press reported. “It will be my duty to carry out the president’s policies, not mine,” he told lawmakers.