The Tucker Carlson Show

Episode: Whistleblower Exposes the Real Puppet Masters Controlling the State Department and Plans for Gaza
Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Tucker Carlson
Guest: Former State Department Press Officer (Near Eastern Affairs Bureau)

Episode Overview

This episode features an exclusive interview with a former State Department press officer for the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau who was recently dismissed. The conversation exposes internal State Department processes, the influence of political actors aligned with Israel, suppression of standard humanitarian language in official communications, and the growing radicalization of U.S. policy towards Gaza and the West Bank. The guest describes how certain staffers and advisors—some with direct ties to influential media personalities—have overridden or shaped U.S. foreign policy lines, often prioritizing Israeli interests over U.S. positions, and reveals concerns about forced displacement policies for Palestinians.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Role & Routine of a State Department Press Officer

• The guest served as a press officer specializing in Israeli-Palestinian affairs, preparing official lines for press briefings and media inquiries ([00:09]-[04:30]).
• Press guidance lines are drafted, then cleared up a chain: desk officers ➔ bureau leadership ➔ “seventh floor” (senior State leadership) ([01:16]).
• The Near Eastern Affairs Bureau (NEA) covers the entire Middle East—from Morocco to Iran—divided into desks (e.g. Israel/Palestine, Arabian Peninsula, North Africa) ([02:12]-[03:19]).
• Israeli-Palestinian affairs is described as “the hottest of all desks” due to political sensitivity and media scrutiny ([03:36]-[03:50]).

2. How Official U.S. Policy Is Determined

• The “gold” for a press officer: direct quotes from principals (President, Secretary of State, Special Envoy) are considered policy ([07:43]-[08:30]).
• If direct quotes aren’t available, lines are derived by interpreting previous statements, which introduces ambiguity ([08:31]-[08:55]).

3. The Forced Displacement Controversy

• The guest recounts being disciplined for including in official guidance the line “we do not support forced displacement” of Palestinians—a line reflecting prior quotes by Trump and Special Envoy Witkoff ([09:26]-[10:22], [13:52]-[15:47]).
• This line was repeatedly cleared previously, but when a journalist asked about rumors of relocating Gazans to South Sudan, the line was abruptly cut by the secretary’s office without explanation ([14:00]-[15:47]).
• Supervisors could not explain the cut, nor did anyone state that the U.S. now supports forced displacement ([16:44]-[17:02]).
  • Quote:

    “No one said that. No one said that.” (B, 16:50)

  • Quote:

    “It’s something you would want to advertise. You want to put out there that we’re against this… and when the Washington Post piece came out... is this why I got fired?” (B, 17:05)

4. Condolences to Families of Killed Journalists—Suppressed

• The guest describes being chastised for proposing that the U.S. extend condolences to families of journalists killed by Israeli strikes, a standard diplomatic gesture ([21:09]-[22:03]).
  • Quote:

    “I said we share condolences for the families of the killed journalists. That’s all.” (B, 21:44)

• This, too, was seen as too sympathetic; directives were to defer to Israeli statements, not to offer U.S. comment ([22:17]-[23:32]).
  • Quote:

    "The whole apparatus…mirroring certain Israeli statements and waiting for them to comment first was something that I found tragic." (B, 24:20)

5. Systemic Deference to Israel

• Across sensitive topics, the State Department’s default response was to “refer you to Israel,” rather than articulate independent U.S. policy ([24:19]-[28:32]).
• The guest could not recall any official U.S. position at odds with current Israeli government positions ([28:42]-[29:02]).
  • Memorable exchange:

    A: “Does the State department have any position that contradicts the position of the Israeli government that you’re aware of?”
    B: “No, I think. No.” (28:42-28:49)

6. Influence of Embassy and Specific Political Actors

• Internal press lines were subject to review and edits from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, especially Senior Advisor David Milstein, who is Mark Levin’s stepson and a former aide to Ted Cruz ([37:10]-[38:15]).
• Milstein often inserted language like “Judea and Samaria”—biblical terms that negate Palestinian claims—in official statements, and aggressively lobbied for pro-Israel phrasing ([41:06]-[43:57]).
  • Quote:

    “He changed the stability line to ‘We commend Speaker Johnson for visiting Judea and Samaria.’” (B, 41:16)

• Despite lacking formal authority, Milstein wielded notable influence—pressuring staff, going up the chain to get edits approved, and even drafting statements in the name of the Secretary ([43:57]-[47:12]).

7. Suppression of Standard U.S. Protocols and Growing Radicalization

• The guest is alarmed that radical pro-Israel stances and erasure of standard protocol (e.g., not using “Judea and Samaria” in official docs) are increasingly becoming the norm ([51:44]-[53:21]).
  • Quote:

    “It’s also inconsistent with longstanding U.S. policy.” (A, 53:21-53:24)

• The firing sent a warning to other staff: don't challenge the Israeli-aligned agenda, solidifying “unleashed Embassy Jerusalem” ([53:44]-[54:33]).

8. Lack of U.S.-Centric Accountability and Policy Direction

• There is virtually no mechanism or appetite to follow up on Israeli actions, even when they affect U.S. interests, allies, or basic human rights ([30:30]-[32:14], [34:11]-[34:29]).
• Guest argues this is both strategically dangerous and unpatriotic:
  • Quote:

    “Why would you want to be radical on behalf of another country?...it’s also a form of treachery.” (A, 64:13-64:36)

9. What Is the Real Plan for Gaza and the West Bank?

• Guest voices concern that the State Department is preparing for annexation of the West Bank by Israel, and that plans for ethnic cleansing (forced displacement) of Gazans are moving forward ([66:02]-[67:07], [75:36]-[75:50]).
  • Quote:

    “There’s going to be an Israeli takeover of the West Bank … the Israelis want to take over that and call the entire West Bank part of Israel.” (B, 66:49-67:07)

• Guest believes U.S. officials have likely approached foreign governments about accepting Palestinian refugees; plans to “pay them off” to leave Gaza are probable ([72:03]-[73:12]).
  • Quote:

    “Do you think it’s possible that US Government officials have talked to foreign governments about accepting the population of Gaza as refugees? ...I...it’s probable.” (A&B, 73:05-73:12)

10. Personal Reflections & Final Events

• The guest describes sudden termination—lost access, no explanation, a text from a contractor ([76:02]-[77:04]).
• He maintains pride for his work and colleagues at the Department but is “horrified” by the policy direction and chilling effect of his firing ([77:04]-[78:18]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Forced Displacement Suppression

• B: “I have the evidence from July 28th of clearing this press guidance with that line... And here are the relevant quotes.” ([16:25])
• A: “Did anyone say...the United States does support forced displacement?”
• B: “No one said that. No one said that.” ([16:44]-[16:50])

On Deference to Israel

• B: “This whole apparatus…—mirroring certain Israeli statements and waiting for them to comment first—was something that I found tragic.” ([24:20])
• A: “Does the State department have any position that contradicts the position of the Israeli government that you’re aware of?”
• B: “No…I think on U.S. interests we do, but in our current…posture, we do not.” ([28:42]-[29:02])

On Internal Influence

• B: “He changed the stability line to ‘We commend Speaker Johnson for visiting Judea and Samaria.’ So…Judea and Samaria, it’s a term…about Israel’s land grab of the West Bank.” ([41:06])
• A: “But from a sort of government perspective, Judea and Samaria are not real places...you can’t…refer to it in any kind of official capacity. That would be…crazy.”
• B: “100%.” ([43:02]-[43:41])

On Policy Radicalization

• A: “Why would you want to be radical on behalf of another country?”
• B: “Right. It makes no sense.” ([64:13]-[64:36])

On Colleagues & Chilling Effect

• B: “Just in the office itself, it just puts this chilling effect for everybody, you know?” ([77:44])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:09] – [04:30]: Guest's background, NEA Bureau structure, assignment to Israeli-Palestinian desk
• [07:43] – [09:26]: How “official policy” is created for press lines and the power of direct quotes
• [09:26] – [10:43], [13:52] – [17:02]: The forced displacement controversy and cutting of humanitarian lines
• [21:09] – [24:20]: Suppression of condolences, deferring to Israel, refusal to make independent U.S. statements
• [28:32] – [32:14]: Historical lack of contradiction to Israeli government policy, absence of follow-up, and apathy towards U.S. interests and allied relationships
• [37:10] – [47:12]: Embassy Jerusalem’s influence—David Milstein’s edits, role, and background (Mark Levin’s stepson)
• [51:44] – [54:33]: Growing radicalization and staff silencing
• [66:02] – [67:17]: What’s the plan for Gaza and the West Bank? Fears of annexation and population transfer
• [72:03] – [73:12]: Likelihood that U.S. is negotiating forced displacement with other countries
• [76:02] – [78:18]: Description of abrupt firing, impact on staff morale

Conclusion

This episode delivers a detailed, first-hand account of how senior political appointees and embassy staff aligned with Israeli interests shape U.S. policy and messaging—sometimes in defiance of official policy and established protocol. The guest’s firing for proposing routine humanitarian language (condolences, opposition to forced displacement, calls for stability) reveals the chilling effect and silencing within the Department. The conversation concludes with concerns about the future of U.S. Middle East policy—whether it is sliding into uncritical support for radical moves by Israel, eroding American partnerships, and trampling on previously foundational values.