“Many plates of poison—Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis—are being served all out of the same kitchen, Tehran,” said Ambassador Mike Huckabee.
Etgar Lefkovits
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee speaks with Alex Traiman, CEO of the Jewish News Syndicate during the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem, Jan. 27, 2026. Photo by Matt Kaminsky/JNS.
(Jan. 28, 2026 / JNS)
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Tuesday that “many plates of poison” are coming from Iran, and that it is best to “burn the kitchen down” than simply “changing the menu,” amid the possibility of a looming US military strike on the Iranian regime.
His comments come as the United States is increasing its military presence in the region amid threats to attack Iran in the wake of the violent repression of anti-government protests there.
“Many plates of poison—Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis—are being served all out of the same kitchen, Tehran,” Huckabee said in conversation with JNS CEO Alex Traiman at the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem. “You can change the menu; better to burn the kitchen down and not let them serve those plates anymore.”
He said that Christians need to understand that they will be the next target of the Islamists.
“You have been the appetizer; we are the entrée,” he said.
Trump as the ‘ultimate pragmatist’
Huckabee said that he sees U.S. President Donald Trump as the “ultimate pragmatist,” who is “always thinking ‘will it work?’ ‘Will it make things better?’”
“He has been the most effective president in my lifetime and the most consequential when it comes to foreign policy,” he said.
Antisemitism on the left
The staunchly pro-Israel Baptist minister-turned ambassador said that the root of Jew hatred was spiritual at its core.
“If you don’t believe there is a God, or that you are your own God, or that the environment is your God, then your first target is naturally Jews,” said Huckabee. “When people hate God, they’re naturally going to hate the people who, throughout history, from the time on Mount Moriah right here in Jerusalem, represented those whom God first spoke to in a very personal and real way.”
“The root of Jew hatred is not political, not economic, but spiritual,” he said.
Antisemitism on the right
Huckabee, who has not shied away from denouncing antisemites on his own side of the political spectrum, such as conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, said that antisemitism on the right has “grown very rapidly because it is profitable.”
“It doesn’t make sense that a man in his 50s, whom I’ve known for years with a completely different worldview and base, suddenly flipped,” Huckabee said of Carlson. “What happened? I don’t know. Is it more profitable for him to do what he’s doing now than what he was doing when he was at Fox News? He wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t.”
Unique focus on antisemitism
No single president, either Democrat or Republican, has focused on antisemitism the way Trump has, said Huckabee, citing both Trump’s Jewish daughter and grandchildren and unflinching support for the State of Israel from his first term in office until today.
“Deep down, Trump believes if you bless Israel, you will be blessed; if you curse Israel, you will be cursed,” said Huckabee.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks at the House GOP Member Retreat in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 2026. Photo by Daniel Torok/White House.
(Jan. 28, 2026 / JNS)
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran in a Truth Social post on Wednesday that “a massive armada” is making its way to the region and advised it to negotiate a settlement on its nuclear program as time was running out.
“A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela. Like with Venezuela, it is ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary,” Trump posted.
“Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal—NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS—one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence,” he added.
Trump further warned Iran that if it didn’t make a deal, the next attack would be far worse than the previous “Operation Midnight Hammer,” in which the United States dropped 12 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, also known as bunker busters, on the Fordow nuclear facility, on June 22, 2025. A submarine also fired 30 Tomahawk missiles at the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations, responding on its official X account, warned that U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iran “squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives.” It said it was ready for dialogue based “on mutual respect and interests” but would defend itself “like never before” if attacked.
Complicating U.S. efforts, Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that it will not allow American forces to use its airspace or territory to launch an attack on Iran, echoing a similar stance by the United Arab Emirates on Monday.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conveyed his position in a call directly to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, The Wall Street Journal reported.
On Monday, the U.S. military’s Central Command said the USS Abraham Lincoln and its 
