By Newsmax Wires | Tuesday, 04 November 2025 04:06 PM EST
Rabbi Yaakov Menken, a leading Orthodox figure, announced his resignation from the Heritage Foundation’s National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, citing the organization’s failure to condemn Tucker Carlson’s ties to white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Menken criticized Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts for failing to distance the group from Carlson’s rhetoric, which he described as validating antisemitic ideologies.
The controversy erupted after Roberts endorsed an interview between Carlson and Fuentes, a self-professed admirer of Adolf Hitler who has denounced “organized Jewry” and made Holocaust denial claims. Despite public backlash, Roberts later clarified his stance but maintained support for Carlson. Menken’s resignation letter stated the task force could not align with an organization that “grants legitimacy to an effort to combat antisemitism while validating antisemitism.”
Menken emphasized that his decision was not about silencing free speech but rejecting platforms for hate. He accused Carlson of amplifying anti-Israel rhetoric, including claims of genocide in Gaza, which he argued devalued Jewish lives and indirectly supported extremist groups. The rabbi warned that failing to confront right-wing antisemitism risked enabling its spread, mirroring patterns seen in other political spheres.
The Heritage Foundation has not publicly addressed the fallout, as calls for Roberts’ removal grow within the organization’s ranks.
