MAGA divided over Huckabee’s visit with spy convicted of stealing US secrets for 'Israel'

• Mike Huckabee’s meeting with convicted spy Jonathan Pollard has sparked controversy within the MAGA movement.
• Critics argue Huckabee prioritized 'Israel' over US national security.
• The incident has revived debates over US–'Israel' ties, antisemitism, and “dual loyalty” among MAGA supporters.

A recent meeting between US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Jonathan Pollard, an American convicted of spying on the US for 'Israel', has intensified divisions within the MAGA movement over America’s relationship with Jerusalem.

The controversy comes amid ongoing debates in MAGA circles over policy in the Middle East, domestic priorities, and how the right should address 'Israel' and antisemitism. Huckabee, a devout evangelical and longtime 'Israel' supporter, faced sharp criticism from prominent MAGA figures.

“Completely indefensible,” activist Mike Cernovich wrote on social media. “Pollard has gone on record since his return to Israel, claiming it's a moral duty to spy on the United States.”

Huckabee also drew condemnation from Steve Bannon, former Trump aide and host of the War Room podcast, who said, “Huckabee has been totally out of control.” Former Navy intelligence officer and right-wing podcaster Jack Posobiec added, “You can't sit down with traitors.”

The New York Times first reported that Huckabee met Pollard at the US embassy in Jerusalem in July. Pollard, a former naval intelligence analyst, served 30 years in prison in the United States for passing classified documents to 'Israel'. He was released on parole in 2015 and relocated to 'Israel' in 2020, where he is regarded by some as a hero.

“It was a friendly meeting,” Pollard told the Times. Huckabee told Axios that “nothing was requested and nothing was granted.” The purpose of the meeting has not been clarified.

Some MAGA members invoked the antisemitic “dual loyalty” trope in response to the meeting, citing Pollard’s past comments suggesting American Jews “consider themselves more American than they do Jews” and asserting “we will always have dual loyalty.”

The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the MAGA movement over US–'Israel' relations. While some supporters advocate maintaining strong military and economic ties with 'Israel', others see the country as an unnecessary burden, reflecting broader skepticism toward allies.

The debate has intensified in recent months amid 'Israel’s' war on Gaza, US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and the rise of far-right figures like Nick Fuentes, who has praised Hitler and questioned the Holocaust. The conversation now encompasses questions about what constitutes antisemitism and which forms of criticism of 'Israel' are tolerated within MAGA circles.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the administration was “not aware of the meeting” beforehand, but affirmed that President Trump “stands by our ambassador, Mike Huckabee, and all that he's doing for the United States and Israel.”