Transcript [00:00] President Trump. He doesn't ask, he [00:01] tells and he told me I'm going to be the [00:03] ambassador to Israel. [00:04] >> So why would he say that? Why would he [00:06] suggest Israel? [00:07] >> I know it sounds a little funny for an [00:09] ambassador to be talking like this. I [00:10] see this as spiritual darkness, [00:12] spiritual blindness. [00:13] >> For such a time as this, I believe you [00:16] became the ambassador. [00:17] >> Hey shalom everyone and welcome to yet [00:20] one more episode of the Anchor podcast. [00:24] Today it's a very special day. We're [00:26] actually recording this one from [00:28] Jerusalem as you can see behind me. [00:31] President Donald Trump in mid-2025 [00:36] shared an important text message. [00:39] And as he shared it, he actually said, [00:43] "This is from Mike Huckabee, [00:46] a pastor, [00:48] a politician, [00:50] an ambassador, [00:52] and a great man." [00:54] Well, we have today the honor of having [00:57] that great man with us. So, welcome to [01:01] Ambassador Mike Huckabee. [01:15] Ambassador Huckabee, shalom and good to [01:17] have you here. [01:17] >> Shalom. What a pleasure to be with you. [01:19] We've known each other for many, many [01:21] years. I'm so proud of you and the [01:25] extraordinary impact you're having. So, [01:28] thank you for letting me just come and [01:29] visit with you and to say hello to a [01:32] very old, not a very old, [01:34] a very long time and a very dear friend. [01:37] >> Thank you for gracious words and but [01:40] you're the one that landed just couple [01:41] hours ago and I can't believe you still [01:44] made it. So, thank you for being here [01:46] with us. You know, President Trump [01:48] shared a text message with the world you [01:52] sent him on June 17th, uh 2025. And when [01:57] he shared it, he said, "This is from [01:59] Mike Huckabee, a pastor, [02:02] politician, ambassador, and great [02:05] person." [02:06] And I want to tell you something. [02:08] I know all of those sides of you. [02:11] A great person [02:12] is what is the guy that is sitting in [02:15] front of me. We'll talk about the text [02:17] message later. [02:19] But, um [02:21] I think that the fact that he mentioned [02:23] pastor first [02:25] means that whatever you wrote him [02:27] touched or struck a chord that is a far [02:30] more than just politics and war. It was [02:35] uh biblical. [02:36] And so, because you are a pastor, [02:39] and can you share with me, maybe in 3 [02:42] minutes, 4 minutes, your story of how [02:45] you got saved? [02:47] >> I was uh [02:49] sitting at my house. I was uh [02:52] celebrating my 10th birthday. My sister [02:55] said, "You ought to go to vacation Bible [02:57] school [02:58] at the church." And I thought, "I don't [03:00] want to do that. That sounds like [03:02] something for sissies. I don't want to." [03:04] And she said, "Yeah, but if you go, they [03:06] give you all the Kool-Aid you can drink [03:07] and all the cookies you can eat, and [03:09] they play baseball." [03:10] And I thought, "Well, cookies, [03:13] Kool-Aid, baseball, okay, I'll go." [03:16] So, I went, and it was on my 10th [03:18] birthday, August the 24th, 1965. [03:22] And [03:24] they decided that I couldn't eat more [03:25] than two cookies or drink more than one [03:27] cup of Kool-Aid, for one thing. [03:29] But, the pastor came in and talked to us [03:31] about what it meant to know Christ. [03:34] And I didn't understand a lot of it. I'm [03:35] 10 years old. [03:37] But, I knew that whatever it was he was [03:38] talking about had not happened to me. [03:41] And so, he said, "I'll lead us in a [03:43] prayer. And if you want to pray this [03:44] prayer, join me." [03:46] And I didn't want to lift my hand or [03:48] call attention to myself, cuz I was a [03:50] very shy person, believe it or not. [03:52] Uh [03:53] but I prayed that prayer and I knew [03:55] something was so overwhelming. In fact, [03:57] when it came time to go play baseball, I [04:00] was sitting on the steps of the church [04:01] and the guy said, "Come on, let's go [04:03] play baseball." And I never will forget [04:05] I said, "I can't." They said, "How [04:08] come?" I said, "Cuz I don't want to get [04:09] dirty." [04:10] And and it was like I I couldn't even [04:12] separate physical dirt from spiritual [04:14] dirt, but I knew something had happened [04:17] and there was a cleansing and I didn't [04:19] want to get dirty. I didn't play [04:20] baseball that day, which was the one of [04:22] the reasons I even went. So, now I have [04:25] a vivid, vivid memory. Some people say, [04:27] "I don't really know what, when, how." [04:30] Oh, I have a very specific memory of [04:32] exactly when [04:34] the day, the hour, the moment. [04:36] >> know your second birthday. [04:37] >> I know my second birthday. Really easy [04:39] to remember cuz it's the same as my [04:41] first one. [04:41] >> Wow. [04:42] >> it nice. [04:43] >> on your birthday. [04:43] >> Yeah, August 24th. [04:45] >> Perfect. [04:46] >> First birthday, second birthday. [04:48] >> Amazing. [04:48] >> Yeah. [04:49] >> And when did you meet Janet? [04:50] >> We knew each other even as we were kids. [04:53] We both grew up in the same hometown of [04:55] Hope, Arkansas. And we were classmates [04:59] in the same class from the seventh grade [05:02] on. We had gone to different elementary [05:04] schools, but small town, you know [05:05] everybody, so we knew each other. [05:07] And then we started dating our senior [05:09] year of high school and got married [05:12] after [05:12] >> sweethearts. [05:12] >> Yeah. [05:13] >> Wow. [05:13] >> And uh then got married after our first [05:16] year of college. [05:17] >> Amazing. [05:18] >> Been married 52 and 1/2 years. [05:20] >> Wow, 31 here. I still have long way to [05:22] go. Wow. So, in So, now you're a born [05:27] again, you are a married man. When was [05:31] it [05:32] that Israel got into your heart and [05:35] mind? [05:36] Uh because obviously it's not the part [05:39] of mind and hearts of many. [05:42] >> Well, for me it was 1973. I just [05:44] finished high school. A friend of mine [05:47] uh wanted to take a senior trip. He was [05:49] from a very wealthy family. I came from [05:52] a very poor family. I'd never traveled [05:54] anywhere, [05:55] never thought I could or would. [05:57] And his dad said to him, "Son, I'm not [05:59] going to let you take a big trip like [06:01] this." And he wanted to go to the Middle [06:02] East. [06:04] "But if Mike Huckabee will go with you, [06:05] I'll pay his way." [06:07] >> Wow. [06:07] >> So, his father paid not only for his [06:09] son, but he paid for me. And I think [06:11] back, I think his dad thought I was more [06:13] trustworthy than his own son, which may [06:16] not be far off the mark. [06:18] We came over here. We were both I was [06:21] not quite 18, he was 18. [06:23] >> That was before the war. [06:24] >> Before the war. Yeah, this was July of [06:26] '73, just before the Yom Kippur War in [06:28] October. [06:30] We went to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, [06:33] Cyprus, Greece. [06:35] >> Wow. [06:35] >> Um [06:36] >> Big one. [06:37] >> all over the region and came to Israel. [06:40] I enjoyed everything that I saw, [06:42] but when we came to Israel, something [06:45] >> Mhm. [06:45] >> happened. I mean, it was spiritual. [06:47] And there was a connection, there was a [06:49] magnetism. [06:50] And I I couldn't really explain it, but [06:53] I [06:54] felt at home in a place I'd never been. [06:56] How do How does that happen? Because of [06:58] all the biblical things that had [06:59] happened here. And it was like I was [07:01] suddenly in this land that I knew God's [07:04] hand was upon. [07:05] And Amir, one of the things a lot of [07:07] people may not understand, especially if [07:09] they're a lot younger, in 1973, Israel [07:12] was not a start-up nation. [07:14] >> It wasn't a rapidly growing regional [07:16] power. It was a country hanging on by a [07:21] thread [07:22] economically and even militarily. They [07:24] were winning battles they shouldn't win. [07:26] They would soon win the Yom Kippur War, [07:28] which almost cost them the country. [07:31] But you go to the old city on a Friday, [07:34] and there were Bedouins running their [07:36] sheep and goats right through the [07:38] >> Amazing. [07:38] >> old city. [07:39] The There was no traffic to worry about [07:42] cuz there were nobody had cars. The [07:44] economy was struggling. And it was [07:46] pretty much a socialist [07:49] economy. [07:49] >> Correct. The Labour Party was ruling. [07:52] >> Exactly. And it was a very different [07:54] country. [07:55] But there was still something about it [07:57] that was overwhelming and I couldn't [07:59] wait to get back. So in 1981 I started [08:02] bringing groups of people. [08:03] >> Wow. As a pastor? [08:05] >> Yeah, but then I was a pastor. I did not [08:07] intend to be a pastor, by the way. I was [08:08] expecting to go into Christian [08:10] communications, radio and television, [08:12] which I eventually did. [08:14] But I was [08:15] pastor of a church in Pine Bluff, [08:17] Arkansas and I thought, I bet there are [08:19] people that would like to go to Israel. [08:21] So we put a trip together and that was [08:22] the beginning of what became [08:25] scores of trips over the years. [08:27] I brought tens of thousands of people [08:29] here. That's where you and I met. [08:30] >> Yep. [08:31] >> Was during one some of those tours. [08:33] Uh [08:35] I never got tired of it and people would [08:37] say, you've been over there so many [08:38] times. I know you see the same things. [08:40] Why don't you keep going? I said, [08:41] because I learn something new every [08:42] time. [08:43] I never get enough of it. [08:45] I'm getting on the plane to go back to [08:47] the states and I'm thinking, when can I [08:49] come back? [08:50] >> Wow. [08:51] >> I never thought I would live here. So [08:52] it's been a pretty amazing journey. [08:54] >> And what do you say about churches that [08:57] are actually distancing themselves from [08:59] Israel thinking that the church has [09:01] replaced Israel and Israel's no longer [09:03] God's people? [09:04] >> I would say they're [09:06] getting really close to heresy. First of [09:09] all, uh if you're getting away from a [09:12] connection to Israel, you're really [09:14] getting away from the scripture. [09:15] Because whether you're looking at [09:16] Genesis 12 and [09:19] uh God's promise that those who bless [09:21] Israel will be blessed, those who curse [09:23] Israel will be cursed. Or if you look at [09:25] what he said to Abraham that through [09:27] Abraham and his seed, the world will [09:30] know. Um [09:32] the foundation of my faith as a [09:34] Christian, and I say this to my Jewish [09:36] friends all the time because sometimes [09:37] they ask me even with this sort of okay, [09:40] what's the real deal? Tell me the story. [09:42] >> Because you don't fit. You see when they [09:44] hear Christian, they immediately think [09:46] about Catholic Church and Catholic [09:48] Church holds the replacement theology. [09:50] And suddenly someone comes, he loves [09:52] them, he agrees with them, he accepts [09:54] them and yet he is a Christian, he's not [09:57] trying to become a Jew. [09:59] So you don't fit. [10:00] >> Well, but for evangelicals, those of us [10:03] who are people of the book, [10:06] we understand that a person can be [10:08] Jewish, they don't need to be any [10:11] connecting factor to a Christian. [10:15] But if you're a Christian, you cannot be [10:16] a Christian without connecting your [10:18] faith to the foundation upon which it is [10:21] entirely built, which is the Jewish [10:23] foundation. [10:24] I don't know of any Christian that [10:25] doesn't believe in the God of Abraham, [10:28] Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus was Jewish. All [10:31] the early church, all of the early [10:32] church were Jewish until it finally [10:34] through Paul began to spread out to the [10:36] Gentiles. [10:37] But even in that, we have to keep in [10:39] mind that the Gospels and all of the [10:41] Epistles were very explicitly clear [10:44] that that doesn't mean that God has [10:47] given up on the Jews. The idea that [10:49] replacement theology, and I hear this [10:51] >> it's an offense to God. [10:52] >> It is an offense because it's saying, [10:54] God, you're a promise breaker. You made [10:57] a covenant with these people [10:59] and then you broke it. No, I may break [11:01] my covenant with God, but God cannot, [11:04] it's not just that he will not, he [11:06] cannot because he's an immutable God, [11:09] he's holy, he's omniscient, he's [11:11] perfect. A perfect God wouldn't say, uh [11:14] you know, I made that promise, but yeah, [11:16] I'm not going to keep it. [11:17] >> In Malachi said, I'm God, I do not [11:19] change, therefore you're not consumed, [11:20] oh sons of Jacob. [11:22] I mean, the survival of Israel is a [11:24] testimony to the fact that God is an [11:26] unchanging God. [11:27] >> I in my life, even in my trips here over [11:30] the past 53 and a half years. [11:33] Here's what I have seen. [11:34] Miracle after miracle after miracle and [11:37] fulfillment of prophecy after prophecy. [11:40] When [11:41] the [11:42] prophet Ezekiel said that the dry bones [11:45] will live again and God will put flesh [11:47] on the bones. I have literally seen that [11:49] in this country that the dry bones have [11:52] come to life. [11:53] And [11:54] when the scriptures speaks and the [11:56] prophets talk about the [11:58] uh desert will bloom, well, America [12:01] I the desert has bloomed. There are [12:03] places that are now mature forest, lush [12:06] farmland that are producing amazing [12:09] fruits and vegetables that if you went [12:11] back 50 years, it [12:14] barren, dry, desert. Nothing was growing [12:18] there. Nothing. [12:19] >> And that's an act of God. In Ezekiel 36 [12:21] it says, "And I speak to you mountains [12:23] of Israel, shoot forth your branches and [12:25] yield your fruit for my people Israel, [12:27] for they are about to come." In [12:28] preparation for the return of the Jews, [12:30] he spoke fertility. And it's amazing [12:33] because we see it. [12:34] >> And and only [12:37] with the hand of God is this possible. [12:39] Now, people can say, "Well, but drip [12:40] irrigation made it I understand all of [12:43] that. God used the technology, [12:46] but without the people who had the faith [12:48] to plant seed in a desert, [12:51] there is no modern [12:53] >> why I have a problem with secular [12:55] Zionism that claims that we did it and [12:57] we came it. [12:59] There is no such thing. Without God, we [13:01] would have never been here. [13:03] >> I say every day to people [13:06] that it would take more faith to not [13:08] believe in miracles in this country than [13:10] it does just to look around and say, [13:12] "Yep, I see miracles everywhere out [13:14] there." [13:15] >> And so, [13:16] what year were you elected governor? [13:20] >> I was first elected lieutenant governor [13:21] in 1993, reelected in '94 because I had [13:24] first won in a special election. [13:26] And then during my tenure as lieutenant [13:28] governor 1996, the governor had to [13:31] resign. He was convicted of crimes. [13:34] And so [13:34] >> Automatically you became [13:36] >> Yeah, so I was thrust into the office [13:38] unexpectedly. Then I was reelected again [13:40] in 1998 and 2002. So I served as [13:43] governor almost 11 years. Three years as [13:46] lieutenant governor. [13:47] >> Wow. [13:48] >> It was an incredible experience. [13:49] >> your daughter is the governor of the [13:51] state. [13:51] >> the governor now. [13:52] >> And she's running for re-election. [13:53] >> She is. She tells everybody, "I just [13:56] want to be a better governor than my [13:57] dad." And I say, "Hey kiddo, I think [14:00] you've crossed that line already." [14:02] >> Wow. And I, you know, I can't see [14:05] Arkansas [14:07] governed by someone else at this time. [14:08] This is a crucial time for America. [14:10] >> It is. [14:11] >> You see how the country's changing. [14:13] >> You know, she is one strong Zionist as [14:15] well. Because she came here first when [14:18] she was 11. I took her to Yad Vashem. [14:20] Took her all over the country for that [14:21] matter. [14:22] Yad Vashem really impacted her. [14:25] It really sunk into her. [14:27] >> Mhm. [14:28] >> Uh [14:29] what happened. [14:30] And how evil it was and how it happened [14:33] because so many [14:34] decent people just looked the other way. [14:37] And they did not want to get involved. [14:38] And I think what she is seeing now and [14:40] why she is such a strong voice [14:43] because she sees those same elements [14:46] that led to the Holocaust [14:48] happening right now in our culture and I [14:51] never thought I would see that again. I [14:52] don't think any of us did. [14:53] >> Yes. [14:54] >> And this idea that uh [14:56] either let's blame the Jews, let's hate [14:58] the Jews, let's dismiss them. It's a [15:00] dangerous place for anyone to be, but [15:03] especially for people who claim to be [15:05] Christians. I'm really proud of her, not [15:08] just for being governor, [15:10] but for sticking to biblical [15:12] convictions. [15:13] >> So it's about pro-life and so many other [15:15] things. Israel is part of the package of [15:18] being biblical. [15:19] >> It is. Very much it is. I don't think [15:21] you can say, "Well, I'm a biblical [15:23] Christian, [15:24] but I I don't believe God has any [15:26] special role for Israel." I'm sorry, but [15:28] that kind of takes you out of both the [15:30] Old and the New Testament at that point. [15:33] >> But do you do see that America is taking [15:37] a [15:38] different direction? Not maybe [15:40] by the administration right now, but we [15:42] see, for example, the Democratic Party [15:44] right now is being literally taken over [15:48] by something that it has never been. [15:50] Look, there was always wall-to-wall in [15:53] Congress supporting Israel. Maybe not [15:55] supporting Netanyahu or his government, [15:57] but in Israel as a state and in its [16:00] right to exist. That is even eroding [16:02] right now. [16:03] >> There was a time when I [16:06] think it's fair to say Democrats were [16:07] more reliably pro-Israel than [16:09] Republicans were. [16:11] Now that is not the case, and there are [16:14] really signs of younger Republicans sort [16:17] of questioning the value of the [16:19] relationship between the US and Israel. [16:21] I think it's an important relationship. [16:23] I I would speak of it biblically and [16:25] spiritually. That maybe is the most [16:27] important for me. [16:29] But take that away for a minute. And as [16:30] ambassador, um [16:33] I would speak to it from a geopolitical, [16:35] economic, military, and intelligence [16:37] standpoint and tell you [16:38] >> And you as an ambassador, you know. [16:40] >> That's what I I mean, this is the world [16:42] I live in. This water I swim in every [16:45] day. And I'm telling you, I feel that [16:47] it's important for Americans to [16:49] understand the value of the relationship [16:52] between the US and Israel to every [16:55] single American, whether they know it or [16:57] not. [16:58] >> So, when it comes to Islam or Islamists [17:02] in America, [17:05] how do you live with that? I mean, [17:07] because obviously America is pluralist [17:10] society, and you are a country of [17:12] immigrants, [17:13] but there's something different with [17:15] what we see right now. [17:16] >> Well, the big difference is historically [17:18] we've always been a nation of [17:20] immigrants, the melting pot where people [17:22] came from all over the world, from the [17:24] Orient, from Europe, from Africa, from [17:26] everywhere. [17:27] But here was the difference. They came [17:28] in order to be Americans. [17:30] >> Americans, exactly. [17:31] >> They wanted to learn the language. They [17:33] wanted their kids to go to the American [17:35] schools and speak English and start [17:37] businesses. [17:39] >> They didn't want America to be what they [17:40] ran away from. [17:41] >> That's exactly right. They came to [17:43] America as an escape to freedom. [17:46] >> Mhm. [17:47] >> Uh they didn't come to try to make it a [17:49] totalitarian world. [17:51] What What we see now, people are coming [17:54] to America not to say, "I want to be [17:56] what America is." But rather, "I want [17:58] America to be what I am." [18:00] >> I want to take down America. They say [18:01] that. [18:02] >> They do and it's disturbing, it's [18:04] frightening, and it's incredibly [18:06] dangerous. And it's absolutely [18:08] unacceptable that America would think, [18:10] "Okay, yeah, why don't we [18:12] have all these people come in [18:14] and want to change the country into [18:16] something that has miserably failed [18:18] everywhere else in the world. [18:20] >> So now we're done with you being [18:23] governor or pastor and we're moving to [18:25] your ambassadorship. And [18:28] when was it that you heard about it? I [18:29] mean [18:31] >> Just a couple of days after the [18:32] election, my phone rings. [18:35] I have President Trump's number, so I [18:37] know no normally when he calls, but he [18:38] was on a different phone and and this [18:40] number popped up that I didn't [18:41] recognize. Normally I wouldn't take it [18:43] cuz might be some reporter that I don't [18:44] want to talk to. [18:47] But something said answer the phone. I [18:49] did. [18:50] On the other line, the voice says, [18:53] "Mike, Mike, it's Donald Trump. [18:55] You're going to be my ambassador to [18:56] Israel. You're going to go to Israel. [18:57] You're going to be great. You'll be [18:58] great. Now, you're not going to be as [19:00] great as your daughter. She she's better [19:01] than you." He always would say that to [19:03] me. [19:04] >> But he didn't ask. I mean, President [19:06] Trump doesn't ask, he tells and he told [19:08] me I'm going to be the ambassador to [19:10] Israel. This was only a couple of days [19:12] after he was [19:12] >> say that? Why would he suggest Israel? [19:15] Because he knows you're [19:16] >> He He has known. In fact, when he ran [19:18] back in 2016, [19:20] um [19:21] you know, I sat down with him and was [19:23] explaining to him the evangelicals said [19:25] the fact that you cannot win [19:27] without evangelical support uh within [19:30] the Republican Party and certainly even [19:32] on a national level, a Republican cannot [19:34] win without the full-throated and [19:37] enthusiastic support of evangelicals. [19:40] So, he was saying, "Okay, explain to me. [19:42] Tell me what What's important?" I said, [19:44] "Well, [19:45] there are two issues that are [19:47] non-negotiable for the evangelicals. [19:49] Okay, what are they?" I said, "Sanctity [19:51] of life." He nodded. He figured that one [19:53] out. And I said, "Israel." Well, [19:56] and he he did this like [19:58] >> And that was 2016. [19:59] >> Yeah, this is 20 It was actually the [20:01] summer of 2015. Yeah. [20:03] >> And he looked at me. He said, "Israel?" [20:05] And I said, "Yes, sir." He said, "I'm [20:07] not sure I understand that one." [20:09] And I explained it to him. I said, [20:11] "Because to us, [20:12] Israel is not a political issue. It is a [20:15] biblical issue. It's a moral issue. [20:17] And the connection that the United [20:20] States has with Israel [20:21] is not just a convenience. [20:24] >> Mhm. [20:24] >> And it really made sense to him. [20:27] Obviously, [20:28] President Trump, as you know, in his [20:29] first term [20:31] became the most outspoken friend of [20:34] Israel in the history of the United [20:36] States. [20:36] >> Absolutely. [20:37] >> Right. He moved the embassy. [20:38] >> Moved the embassy, recognized Jerusalem [20:40] >> as the capital, recognized the Golan [20:41] Heights. Um [20:42] >> Even made sure that Judean Samaria [20:44] settlement are not illegal. [20:46] >> Yeah. [20:46] >> Uh all of that. [20:48] >> It It was remarkable. [20:48] >> In one term. [20:49] >> In one term. [20:50] And then in his second term, he has now [20:53] twice recognized that the threat from [20:57] Iran is not a threat to just Israel. [21:00] It's always been a threat to the United [21:02] States. And by the way, President Trump, [21:04] as a private citizen and businessman, he [21:06] said it all along. [21:07] >> all along. He was saying it in the early [21:10] 80s. [21:11] >> Correct. [21:11] >> People don't realize he had it figured [21:13] out long before most American [21:15] politicians understood. [21:16] >> I think the president listens to you. [21:20] Uh in ways that I don't I'm not sure he [21:22] listens to others. Because [21:26] it's one thing in February where he [21:28] already wanted to lead the charge and [21:30] all of that. But in June [21:32] >> Mhm. [21:32] >> it wasn't the case. In June Israel [21:35] uh was the first and Israel was already [21:38] a few days into it and then something [21:40] happened. [21:41] And now I'm coming back to this text [21:44] message. [21:45] But I'm not even sure you know [21:48] how we [21:50] saw your text message. [21:52] >> Mhm. [21:52] >> Cuz I grew up knowing that [21:55] the mother of uh President Nixon was [21:58] maybe the reason why he [22:02] decided to help Israel win the Yom [22:04] Kippur War because he remembered when [22:07] Golda called him what his mom told him. [22:10] >> Uh-huh. [22:11] >> So there's obviously was a a spiritual [22:13] connection here and that convicted him [22:15] and then he did something that I guess [22:18] was translated into support on the [22:21] ground. [22:22] But you wrote him something and I want [22:23] to read it to people. I don't think [22:25] people paid attention to what you wrote. [22:28] And I think that they don't even [22:30] understand how much of a weight it was [22:33] on his decision [22:35] to approve midnight hammer and to wipe [22:38] out almost completely the nuclear site. [22:41] So you wrote this, "Mr. President, [22:44] God spared you in Butler, Pennsylvania [22:47] to be the most consequential president [22:49] in a century, maybe ever. The decisions [22:52] on your shoulders I would not want to be [22:55] made by anyone else. You have many [22:58] voices speaking to you, sir, but there [23:00] is only one voice that matters, his [23:03] voice. God's voice obviously. I am your [23:06] appointed servant in this land and I'm [23:09] available for you, but I do not try to [23:12] get in your presence often because I [23:14] trust your instincts. [23:16] No president in my lifetime has been in [23:18] a position like yours. Not since Truman [23:21] in 1945. [23:23] I don't reach out to persuade you. Only [23:26] to encourage you. I believe you will [23:29] hear from heaven [23:31] and that voice is far more important [23:33] than mine or anyone else's. You sent me [23:36] to Israel to be your eyes, ears and [23:39] voice and to make sure our flag flies [23:42] above our embassy. My job is to be the [23:45] last one to leave. I will not abandon [23:48] this post. Our flag will not come down. [23:51] You did not seek this moment. This [23:54] moment sought you. It is my honor to [23:57] serve you my Kakabe. [24:02] When I saw it, [24:04] I immediately thought about [24:08] about Nixon [24:09] and about Truman. [24:12] And they may have been presidents, but [24:15] someone else was there to remind them [24:18] why it was I don't know if you [24:20] understand that what you did. [24:23] You see, [24:24] we have the nuclear threat for the [24:27] longest time like a sword right hanging [24:30] above our [24:31] with one message, [24:34] you managed to package the whole thing [24:37] without even mentioning neither Iran [24:40] nor nuclear. You just told him, [24:43] this is your time. Listen to God. [24:47] And how many hours after was it that he [24:50] already [24:50] >> Oh, it was minutes. Minutes. I sent it [24:53] to him wondering, well, I wonder when [24:55] he'll see it because as I recall, [24:57] it would have been in the middle of the [24:59] night in the US, probably 2:00 in the [25:01] morning. So, I wasn't expecting an [25:02] answer till later. [25:04] Within 10 minutes [25:06] I get a response. [25:07] >> Wow. [25:08] >> And what was the response? [25:09] >> He said [25:11] "I have read your message over and [25:14] over." [25:15] >> There you go. [25:15] >> "And it really has [25:17] had an impact. [25:19] >> Mhm. [25:19] >> I appreciate what you have said." [25:22] And I thought, "Wow, well, that's that's [25:24] nice to hear." [25:25] All right. So, then [25:27] within half an hour, my phone starts [25:29] just blowing up and everyone I think [25:32] I've ever known the country [25:33] >> that he shared it. [25:34] >> Yeah. And they said, "I saw what you [25:35] sent to the president." I'm thinking [25:37] >> a screenshot of I mean, it was [25:39] >> I know, but I I didn't know. I didn't [25:41] realize it was just a private [25:42] communication that I had sent only to [25:44] him. I didn't copy anyone. I didn't even [25:46] say to my wife. [25:48] >> Wow. [25:48] >> even tell her. [25:49] >> Really? [25:49] >> No, I just sent it as a personal message [25:51] to him [25:52] uh directly to his uh phone on a text [25:55] message. [25:56] He was the one who then took it and put [25:58] it out on his social media account and [26:01] it went all over the world. [26:03] But it was the biggest surprise to me. [26:06] >> Wow. [26:07] >> And yeah. [26:08] >> understand now after I mean, it's been a [26:10] year and a Do you understand now the [26:12] effect of that text message? [26:14] >> Only in that God used it. It was not [26:16] anything that I wasn't saying, "Oh, I'm [26:18] going to [26:18] >> How long were you thinking about it [26:20] before you texted it? [26:21] >> Not very. It was [26:23] really one of those moments of just [26:25] inspiration. I thought, "I need to let [26:26] the president know." Cuz here's what I [26:28] was hearing. [26:29] I was watching every one of the world, [26:32] members of Congress, [26:33] people in his administration. People [26:35] were weighing in on what he should do [26:38] and when he should do it, if he should [26:39] do it. [26:40] And I'm thinking, you know, everybody [26:41] needs to back off. [26:44] It's his decision. [26:45] >> Mhm. [26:46] >> And what we need to do is pray for him [26:47] to make the decision. [26:49] I'm not going to try to tell him what he [26:51] ought to do. He got elected president, I [26:53] did not. I tried. [26:55] >> you didn't tell him anything. I mean [26:57] >> No, I just said listen to the voice. [26:58] >> There you go. [26:59] >> God will speak to you. And I I believed [27:02] it then, I believe it now. [27:03] That [27:04] we sometimes want to [27:07] push something on a person. [27:09] What we need to do is to say, "Father, [27:11] speak [27:12] >> Mhm. [27:12] >> to this individual." [27:14] Because you know that [27:15] the proverbs say [27:17] that [27:18] the [27:19] uh the heart of the ruler [27:22] is in the hand of God, and he moves it [27:25] whichever way he wishes. [27:27] I think sometimes we forget the power [27:29] of our prayers, the power of God to move [27:32] the kings. And so it's not about can I [27:37] present a message that will influence [27:39] him? [27:40] It's I can just say [27:41] >> But it it struck a cord. [27:42] >> instincts. I trust your instincts, and I [27:45] do. Even to this day, [27:47] uh people have said to me, "What do you [27:48] think the president's going to do?" I [27:49] said, "I don't really know." Because [27:51] he'll do what he believes he should do. [27:54] >> You know, when I read it, I said to [27:55] myself, and then I said to everyone [27:57] around me, "For such a time is this I [27:59] believe you became the ambassador." [28:01] Because honestly [28:03] and you know [28:05] Ambassador Friedman was a great [28:07] ambassador, and others before were okay. [28:09] Yeah, they're wonderful people. [28:11] I don't think the president of the [28:13] United States [28:15] would have taken a message like that [28:18] from anyone else so so seriously. And [28:22] not only read it, but share it with the [28:24] whole world. And once you share it, [28:26] that's it. [28:27] >> Yeah. [28:27] >> It's it's like you need to do something [28:29] now. [28:31] >> Well, it was [28:32] >> And look what happened. [28:33] >> a great affirmation though that I had [28:35] acted by a prompting of the Holy Spirit. [28:39] >> Yes. [28:39] >> You know, sometimes you have a I wonder [28:41] if should I do this? [28:43] Everything that happened afterwards [28:45] just affirmed that [28:48] it was uh a moment of inspiration. [28:50] >> why he introduced you when he shared it. [28:52] Mike Huckabee, a pastor. He started with [28:55] that. I think he took it as a spiritual [28:58] advice first. [29:00] >> Yeah. [29:00] >> And then he translated it to something [29:03] on the ground not not on the ground, in [29:05] the air. It affected the ground. [29:07] So, where are we with Iran? I mean, [29:11] Midnight Hammer was smashing success, [29:14] but it seems like we had to go to round [29:16] two and maybe even round three. [29:19] >> I I think people [29:21] may not fully appreciate that Iran is in [29:23] the weakest position they've been in [29:25] since 1979. [29:27] >> admitted, by the way. Finally. [29:28] >> Finally. [29:29] >> Yeah. [29:29] >> But they're weaker economically. They [29:31] are in the point of collapsing [29:33] economically. They're weaker militarily. [29:35] Now, they're [29:37] trying to escalate everything they can [29:39] to rebuild their missile supply, to [29:42] restart their nuclear program. It's not [29:44] that they're not scrambling. [29:46] But they are weaker. They are in a very [29:48] difficult, very tough position. [29:51] And the only reason that they're still [29:53] hanging on is because in most countries [29:55] there would be an uproar, a revolt, and [29:58] the people would take down the regime. [30:00] >> Over there, they don't have that [30:01] problem. [30:01] >> They don't have that problem cuz the [30:02] only people have guns [30:04] uh [30:06] are the people [30:07] loyal to the regime. [30:08] >> Exactly. [30:08] >> So, if you stick your head up and say [30:10] I'm going to protest, they shoot you, [30:11] they kill you. We don't know for sure [30:13] how many of their own people were [30:15] murdered by the Iranian regime, but [30:16] we're probably looking at north of [30:18] 60,000 people. And there are regular [30:20] hangings of people who are dissidents. [30:24] Uh that's why it's very difficult to see [30:26] the people rise up to the level at which [30:29] I pray someday they will. Um [30:32] but, you know, the only ones with guns [30:35] are the government. [30:36] >> And do you think we're going to see an [30:38] end to this soon? [30:40] >> I I don't want to predict soon. I think [30:43] that there will [30:43] >> When I say soon, I'm not talking about [30:45] tomorrow. [30:45] >> Yeah, but I would like [30:47] >> within his presidency. [30:48] >> Because the pressure [30:50] that the president has put on the [30:52] Iranians economically [30:54] and that Israel and the US have put on [30:56] them [30:57] militarily. [30:58] And I'm going to tell you something, and [31:00] I hope that the people of Israel [31:01] recognize [31:02] because I don't think the people of [31:04] America do, either. [31:06] The partnership in [31:08] the military operation is unlike [31:11] anything that the US has ever [31:12] experienced before. [31:13] >> Wow. [31:14] >> Our planes were flying wingtip to [31:15] wingtip. We were refueling Israeli jets, [31:18] and Israelis were refueling American [31:20] jets. [31:20] >> Amazing. [31:21] >> There was moments in the operation [31:23] center you could walk in and look around [31:25] and the room was full of people all of [31:27] their screens, I mean, literally [31:30] executing, running the war in real time. [31:32] >> Yeah. [31:33] >> And the only way you know who is the [31:35] Israeli and who is the American [31:37] >> by whatever flag [31:39] >> Oh, yeah. [31:39] >> flag on their sleeve that said the uh [31:42] uh Israeli flag or the American flag. [31:44] >> So, you believe Iran is a threat to [31:46] America as much as it is threat to [31:48] Israel. [31:48] >> It always has been. It's It's always [31:50] been really a bigger threat because [31:54] the origin of the Ayatollahs in '79 was [31:57] death to America. They burned our flag, [31:59] they took our embassy over, they [32:01] kidnapped and held hostage 51 embassy [32:03] employees for 444 days. [32:06] Uh you know, I was married with children [32:08] by then. I remember all that. And so [32:10] many younger Americans have no no frame [32:13] of reference. They don't understand that [32:15] for 47 years [32:18] the Iranian regime has targeted the US, [32:21] and they would say, "Death to Israel." [32:23] And then death to America. [32:25] But Israel has always been just the [32:26] appetizer. America is the ultimate [32:28] target. It's the entree. [32:30] >> Yes. [32:30] >> And we have to remember that. Because if [32:33] we're so naive, you know, if if you're [32:34] Iran [32:36] you're the regime, and you believe that [32:37] your [32:38] purpose on earth is to destroy the [32:41] infidels or convert them to a radical [32:43] form of Shiite Islam. [32:47] Then [32:49] who do you want to really bring down? [32:51] Well, the United States. They're the [32:52] superpower. You take them down and now [32:55] the biggest domino has fallen and you [32:57] can start to rack the rest of them up. [33:00] So, that's always been the goal. I mean, [33:02] you take down the big dog. [33:03] >> that you have to explain that over and [33:05] over again and again and so many [33:07] Americans [33:08] >> Yeah. [33:09] >> But a lot of Americans live in a world [33:10] of naivete, in a world that is so many [33:13] thousands of miles removed and thinking [33:16] they're no threat to me. Here's what I [33:18] remember. [33:19] >> That's how 9/11 happened. You thought [33:21] >> We we lulled ourselves to sleep and we [33:23] got caught. [33:25] Um [33:26] you know, in one year from the summer of [33:28] 25 until the spring of 26, the Iranians [33:32] increased their capacity to deliver a [33:35] ballistic missile from 2,000 km to 4,100 [33:39] km. [33:40] That means they could launch ballistic [33:42] missiles out of Tehran and hit pretty [33:44] much all of Europe, London, Berlin, [33:47] Brussels, [33:48] >> Is that the one that they hit the or [33:50] tried to hit Diego Garcia? [33:51] >> Yes. [33:52] And that was a shocker. Everybody looked [33:54] at that and said, "That's 4,100 km away [33:56] from Te- [33:57] We didn't think they had that range." [33:59] That was when we knew that they did. [34:02] >> And you have to do something about it. [34:04] And and the Europeans, those [34:06] those [34:08] unthankful governments, they they still [34:11] don't understand. You guys are saving [34:13] them as much as you're saving [34:14] yourselves. [34:15] >> It should have happened that when they [34:17] saw what happened at Diego Garcia [34:20] that there was suddenly a wake up and [34:23] >> But there isn't. [34:23] >> There wasn't. And they're still [34:25] thinking, "Oh, America shouldn't have [34:27] gone in to to deal with Iran." I'm [34:29] thinking, "Okay." [34:30] >> Is that a [34:31] mental What is it? A mental [34:32] >> a spiritual [34:33] >> You see, I know it sounds a little funny [34:35] for an ambassador to be talking like [34:37] this, but look, I I see this is [34:38] spiritual darkness, spiritual blindness. [34:41] How else can you explain? [34:43] >> Strong [34:45] >> Because Satan has blinded the minds of [34:47] those and has captured their thinking. I [34:51] really do believe that there is [34:53] something deeper than just the obvious [34:56] geopolitical issues at bay. [34:58] >> You know, you may be the ambassador of [35:00] America in Israel, but [35:02] many Israelis feel like you're the best [35:04] ambassador of Israel in the world. And [35:07] because because you know us very well. [35:09] By the way, I don't know if there's any [35:11] non-Jewish ambassador [35:14] that is so connected with [35:18] the Jewish communities in Israel. And [35:21] I'm not talking about just the [35:23] diplomatic uh [35:24] you know, core. I'm talking about Judea, [35:28] Samaria, the the heartland of Israel. [35:30] They love you there. [35:33] >> Well, you know, it's it's mutual. [35:36] >> And you don't call it the West Bank. You [35:37] call it Judea and Samaria. [35:39] >> You know, and I get asked by reporters, [35:41] "Why do you call it Judea and Samaria? [35:43] Why don't you call it West Bank?" I [35:44] said, "Because West Bank is a nebulous [35:46] term. It doesn't mean anything. West [35:48] Bank of what? The Jordan River and how [35:49] far? Are we talking about, you know, 10 [35:52] km or all the way to the sea?" Because [35:54] we got a lot of people screaming from [35:55] the river to the sea. West Bank might be [35:58] that. I'm not going to call it that. [36:00] 80% of the Bible happened in Judea and [36:02] Samaria. So, if we're going to talk [36:05] about this land historically, let's use [36:08] a term that represents something [36:11] from over 3,000 years. That makes more [36:14] sense than something that is [36:15] representing since 1967. [36:18] That's, you know, that's 60 years. [36:21] >> Us being Jews is because it's Judea. [36:24] >> That's where the whole name Jew [36:26] >> you're an Arab if you call yourself an [36:27] Arab look at Arabia, I guess. [36:30] >> Yeah. [36:31] >> I know you as [36:33] as as an ambassador, there's a lot of [36:35] things you cannot say that you could say [36:38] earlier. And it's okay. [36:39] >> Yeah. [36:40] >> But if there is something, as we land [36:42] this whole plane now, if there is [36:44] something you think Israelis should know [36:46] about America and Americans should know [36:48] about Israel, what is it? [36:50] >> What I wish that Americans knew about [36:52] Israel was that [36:54] and this was a controversial statement [36:57] that the birthplace of America was [36:59] Jerusalem. [37:01] And people thought I was crazy when I [37:02] said that, but I said, "Look, if there [37:04] had never been [37:06] a Jewish people [37:07] there never would have been a law. There [37:09] never would have been the understanding [37:11] that there is one God a God who has [37:14] given us individual accountability and [37:16] responsibility. [37:18] That is something that is a Jewish [37:20] tradition, a Jewish foundation upon [37:23] which Christianity was built. This [37:24] Judeo-Christian foundation is what [37:27] Western civilization was built upon. And [37:29] America, without apology, if you look at [37:31] the Founding Fathers, they quoted the [37:32] Bible more than any other book [37:35] by more than all the other books [37:37] combined, all the other [37:39] thinkers combined. It was the Bible that [37:41] was the foundation. [37:42] >> Yes. [37:43] >> So [37:44] I I say it and people thought I was [37:45] crazy, but somebody asked AI [37:48] "Is Huckabee nuts for saying this?" And [37:50] four pages later, he had doc AI, it, [37:53] she, what, he had documented all of [37:56] these ways in which it was exactly [37:58] correct. [37:59] >> actually confirmed it. [38:00] >> It really did, and I was thinking, [38:02] "Maybe I like AI after all." [38:04] So I wish that Americans understood the [38:07] spiritual connection, heritage, and now [38:09] the value systems that we share that [38:11] really are modern and contemporary and [38:14] very necessary. [38:15] What I wish Israelis knew about [38:17] Americans was that there's still a [38:19] strong, strong support for Israel within [38:22] America. [38:23] There are loud voices and there are some [38:25] crazy voices [38:27] that are [38:28] >> By the way, many of those loud voices [38:30] are loud because of bots and farms and [38:33] propaganda machines, but not Yeah. [38:36] >> We do have to get a message out there. [38:38] >> Yes. [38:39] >> We have to recognize that uh many of the [38:41] Gulf state countries [38:43] Arab countries have spent billions, [38:46] billions of dollars trying to influence [38:48] young Americans through university [38:50] programs and through social media [38:52] platforms and through propaganda. [38:56] Uh I think we have to recognize the [38:58] Chinese and the Russians [38:59] >> Mhm. [38:59] >> have also sought to influence It's not [39:02] that they care that much about Israel. [39:04] It's not about Israel. [39:05] >> America first and Israel is exactly [39:08] >> and destroying America economically and [39:10] morally. If they can do that, they don't [39:12] have to fight us. [39:13] >> Yes. [39:14] >> They just have to come and clean up the [39:15] mess we make ourselves. [39:17] >> Well, with all the things that we see [39:19] coming out of America, [39:21] whenever we see you speaking, [39:23] we smile and we know that [39:26] not everything is bad. [39:28] I mean, you're a fresh, you know, fresh [39:32] you know, everything about the way you [39:35] stand defending your country, but also [39:37] standing for the truth when it comes to [39:38] Israel because there's so much lies and [39:40] deception. [39:42] And you're here in one of the most [39:44] difficult times [39:46] and yet one of the most challenging and [39:48] inspiring times in the history of this [39:51] country. [39:52] And I we could have not asked for a [39:54] better ambassador of the United States [39:56] than you. So, I want to thank you. I [39:59] feel Look, I read as I said, I read that [40:02] text message and I said to everyone, [40:04] "For such a time as this [40:07] the president of the United States of [40:09] America ordered the destruction of the [40:12] nuclear sites in Iran." Something we've [40:14] been trying to to tell the whole world [40:17] and nobody want to wanted to listen. [40:19] Finally, someone is doing that, and I [40:22] believe you have a huge part in it, and [40:25] I want to thank you for it. And I want [40:27] Israelis to know because I don't I don't [40:29] know how many Israelis understand that. [40:31] I don't even know how many Americans [40:33] understand that. And if there is a [40:35] reason for this podcast I I I This is [40:38] what I wanted the whole podcast to be [40:40] around because this is for me [40:43] it happens once in 50 years. [40:46] >> Well, I want to give credit though to [40:48] President Trump for hearing the voice of [40:50] God. Not that he he he didn't hear me. [40:53] He heard "Correct him heaven." [40:55] And I believe [40:57] Butler, Pennsylvania, that attempted [40:59] assassination he recognized [41:01] he was spared for a reason. I really [41:03] believe not only do I believe that, [41:05] he believes that. [41:06] >> And you just reminded him that. [41:09] Ambassador Huckabee, thank you for being [41:11] here. [41:12] >> And I'm looking forward to seeing you [41:13] again. We have so much to talk about in [41:16] the future. And thank God that he sent [41:19] you to be the ambassador here such a [41:20] time as this. [41:21] >> you. And thank you for your teaching, [41:23] for your incredible insight into the [41:26] scripture. I'm glad people are growing [41:29] in their following of what you're doing [41:31] with the podcast and your books. Um it's [41:35] just an exciting thing as I said at the [41:36] beginning. I'm very proud to call you my [41:39] friend. [41:39] >> Thank you. And please send my love to [41:42] your wife, your children, and we pray [41:44] that Sarah will win. Thank you once [41:46] again. Thank you. Thank you very much. [41:48] God bless. [41:48] >> Thanks, only you.
