The Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative think tank in Washington, has experienced severe internal turmoil after its president, Kevin Roberts, publicly supported Tucker Carlson following the former Fox News host’s contentious interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes. The New York Post reported that Roberts’ defense of Carlson—despite widespread condemnation of Fuentes’ antisemitic and extremist views—has sparked outrage among staff, leading to resignations, internal discord, and demands from board members for Roberts to step down.
Internal communications obtained by the Post reveal senior Heritage employees expressing embarrassment and disgust over Roberts’ response to Carlson’s two-hour discussion with Fuentes, who has denied the Holocaust and praised authoritarian leaders. One employee stated, “This is the most embarrassed I’ve ever been to be a Heritage employee,” while another called Roberts’ defense “ridiculous” and questioned how such a “premeditated and orchestrated response” could originate from a prominent conservative institution.
The controversy erupted after Carlson’s interview with Fuentes, which received over 17 million views on X. During the conversation, Fuentes praised Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, attacked “organized Jewry,” and dismissed Christian support for Israel. Carlson accused American Christians backing Israel of being “heretics” suffering from a “brain virus.” Three days later, Roberts released a video defending Carlson as a “close friend of the Heritage Foundation,” dismissing criticism of the interview as “venomous” and claiming that “canceling him is not the answer.”
Roberts’ remarks, which garnered over 23 million views, intensified internal anger. One staffer wrote, “If we are labeled on the same side as Nick Fuentes, then we deserve to lose,” while another accused Roberts of “playing footsie with literal Nazis.” The fallout has already resulted in departures, including Roberts’ chief of staff, Ryan Neuhaus, who was reassigned and later resigned. Jewish scholar David Bernstein, a former member of Heritage’s anti-antisemitism task force, also left, criticizing Roberts’ rhetoric as an attack on Jewish political agency.
The crisis has strained donor support, with evangelical Christian and Jewish contributors reportedly withdrawing funding. References to Heritage’s sponsorship of “The Tucker Carlson Network” have been removed from the organization’s donations page. Prominent board member Robert P. George has called for Roberts’ removal, warning that rejecting “inherent and equal human dignity” enables white supremacy and hatred.
Despite the turmoil, Heritage maintains that Roberts retains board backing. A spokesperson stated, “Heritage’s Board of Trustees continues to support Dr. Roberts and our entire team.” The think tank is set to hold a staff town hall where Roberts will address the controversy directly. Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz has warned of rising antisemitism on the right, urging conservatives to speak out against hatred.
