Ambassador Mike Huckabee Blasts Reports of Trump Recognizing Palestinian State, Affirms Unwavering U.S.-Israel Alliance

By: Fern Sidman

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued a sharp rebuke this weekend over a report in The Jerusalem Post that suggested President Donald Trump is preparing to declare U.S. recognition of a Palestinian state “without the presence of Hamas.” The claim, attributed to an unnamed “Gulf diplomatic source,” was swiftly condemned by Huckabee, who dismissed the story as entirely baseless and reaffirmed the Trump administration’s unwavering support for Israel.

According to a report that appeared on Sunday at The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), Huckabee took to social media on Saturday to criticize the report in pointed terms. “The Jerusalem-based outlet needs better sources than this unidentified ‘source,’” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), referencing the controversial claim. He added, “My 4-year-old grandson Teddy is more reliable. And take it from Teddy—this report is nonsense.”

Huckabee’s remarks reflect the Trump administration’s effort to dispel growing speculation in the region and abroad that a policy shift may be underway. As JNS has reported, President Trump’s record on Israel includes some of the most consequential pro-Israel decisions in U.S. history—from the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem to the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the brokering of the Abraham Accords.

The ambassador’s statement came just a day after another round of headlines, this time from Israel Hayom, claimed that President Trump had grown disillusioned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was actively seeking to “advance moves in the Middle East without him.” Huckabee flatly rejected these claims, too.

“It’s reckless and irresponsible for press to allege that Trump and Netanyahu are not getting along,” Huckabee said in a statement shared by JNS. “Bibi has spent more time with Trump than I have in the past three months—and I’m his ambassador! The relationship between the U.S. and Israel remains STRONG!”

Huckabee’s unequivocal tone reflects the continued emphasis the Trump administration places on a robust, strategic alliance with Israel. As the JNS report noted, the U.S.-Israel relationship has been a cornerstone of President Trump’s foreign policy agenda since his first term, particularly in confronting Iranian aggression, defending Israel at the United Nations, and expanding regional normalization agreements.

JNS contextualized the Jerusalem Post report within the broader regional discourse about Palestinian statehood in the post-October 7 era. With Hamas’ atrocities on October 7 still fresh in the international consciousness, any proposal for Palestinian state recognition—even conditional on Hamas’ exclusion—has become more politically explosive than ever.

The idea of a Palestinian state without Hamas, while theoretically appealing to some Western diplomats, faces major practical and ideological hurdles, as JNS has previously reported.  There remains no credible or unified Palestinian political leadership that could assume governance of Judea, Samaria and Gaza without Hamas’ involvement or influence. Moreover, senior Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that any recognition of Palestinian statehood must follow—not precede—a demonstrable end to incitement, terrorism, and anti-Israel propaganda.

Huckabee echoed that sentiment implicitly, drawing a red line under any speculation that Trump would circumvent Israeli leadership to advance a political deal with the Palestinian Authority.

Ambassador Huckabee concluded his statements by reiterating the depth of Trump’s personal and political commitment to Israel. “Israel doesn’t have a better friend than Donald Trump,” he said—echoing a theme that has been central to both the former president’s messaging and his ambassador’s diplomatic outreach.

The Trump-Netanyahu alliance has been among the closest in the history of U.S.-Israel relations. As JNS has covered extensively, that partnership yielded not only major symbolic wins, such as the embassy move, but also tangible regional shifts—including the historic Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and multiple Arab states.

Analysts quoted by JNS suggest that the recent flurry of reports about tensions between Trump and Netanyahu, and about a potential Palestinian state declaration, may be more reflective of the geopolitical pressures surrounding the 2025 presidential race than actual policy moves.

With both Trump and Netanyahu navigating domestic challenges, including reelection campaigns and mounting global scrutiny, regional actors may be attempting to leverage uncertainty to float trial balloons or advance particular diplomatic narratives. But as Huckabee’s comments underscore, the foundation of the Trump-Netanyahu alliance appears as solid as ever—despite the rumors.

In the final analysis, Huckabee’s categorical rejection of the Jerusalem Post report signals that no significant departure from Trump’s Middle East strategy is on the horizon. As JNS points out, Trump’s approach has consistently centered on Israeli security, direct negotiations between parties, and a rejection of imposed peace frameworks that bypass Jerusalem.