The Lie:
Donald Trump is the first U.S. president to side with an Arab country over Israel, according to Tucker Carlson.
The Truth:
Multiple U.S. presidents have historically sided with Arab states over Israel on various policy issues.
Background
- On December 7, 2025, Tucker Carlson posted on X: “No American president has ever sided with an Arab state over Israel until Donald Trump forced Bibi to apologize to Qatar.”
- In September 2025, Trump reportedly pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to apologize to his Qatari counterpart for missile strikes targeting Hamas officials in Doha.
- Carlson’s claim fits a broader narrative suggesting Israel has controlled the U.S. government for decades.
Truth Explained
- The U.S. imposed an arms embargo on Israel from 1948 until 1962. Israel requested weapons from Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy, but was refused. (Middle East Review of International Affairs)
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower demanded that Israel withdraw from Arab territory during the 1956 Suez Crisis. (Encyclopedia.com), (UCSB)
- President Ronald Reagan sold AWACS aircraft to Saudi Arabia against Israel’s objections. (BESA Center)
- President Barack Obama supported a UN resolution that challenged Israeli claims to the Western Wall, pursued the Iran nuclear deal despite Israel’s opposition, and demanded settlement freezes to pacify Palestinians. (Washington Post), (TIME), (Times of Israel)
- President George H.W. Bush withheld $10 billion in loan guarantees over Israeli settlement activity in Judea and Samaria. (New York Times)
- President Jimmy Carter drove the Camp David negotiations, pressuring Israel to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. (Smithsonian Magazine)
- President Bill Clinton repeatedly pressed Israel to make concessions, undermining security while overlooking Palestinian non-compliance with Oslo commitments. (Heritage Foundation)
- President George W. Bush implemented the “Roadmap for Peace,” pressuring Israel on settlements and steps toward Palestinian statehood even when Israel resisted. (UN)
Quotes:
“Statements attributed to your Government to the effect that Israel does not intend to withdraw from Egyptian territory, as requested by the United Nations, have been called to my attention. I must say frankly, Mr. Prime Minister, that the United States views these reports, if true, with deep concern.” — President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1956
“The pre-eminent obstacle to peace is Israel’s colonisation of Palestine. Israel’s occupation of Palestine has obstructed a comprehensive peace agreement in the Holy Land, regardless of whether Palestinians had no formalised government, one headed by Yasser Arafat or Mahmoud Abbas, or with Abbas as president and Hamas controlling the parliament and cabinet.” — President Jimmy Carter, 2006
Takeaway:
Donald Trump is not the first U.S. president to side with an Arab country over Israel. Longstanding U.S. policy often prioritized negotiations and concessions with Arab states even when Israel opposed them.
