Heritage Foundation Leader Condemned for Defending Far-Right Figure Amid Outcry

By Michael Katz | Saturday, 01 November 2025 11:21 AM EDT

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts ignited fierce backlash from conservatives and Jewish leaders after defending Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes, a figure accused of antisemitism and white-supremacist rhetoric.

In a video posted Thursday on X, Roberts called Carlson “a courageous truth-teller” and “a friend of Heritage,” dismissing criticism over the meeting with Fuentes. He acknowledged disagreement with Fuentes’ views but argued against canceling him, stating, “The American people expect us to be focusing on our political adversaries on the left, not attacking our friends on the right.”

Carlson’s Monday interview with Fuentes drew sharp condemnation. Fred Fleitz, a Newsmax contributor and vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, denounced Carlson as an antisemite who had “seized by this brain virus” for describing some GOP supporters of Israel as “Christian Zionists.”

Roberts framed his defense as resistance against a “venomous coalition” seeking to divide conservatives. He emphasized Heritage’s commitment to “robust debate,” but his remarks triggered immediate backlash. Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, called the foundation’s stance “appalled, offended and disgusted,” accusing it of mainstreaming antisemitism.

Sen. Ted Cruz labeled Roberts’ comments a “moral failure,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described them as an “embrace of antisemitism and white-supremacist conspiracy theories.” Mike Huckabee, U.S. ambassador to Israel, distanced himself, calling the interview “neither conservative nor Christian.”

Amid escalating criticism, Roberts partially retracted his defense Friday, condemning Fuentes’ antisemitism as “explicit, dangerous, and demands our unified opposition.” He acknowledged the threat posed by figures like Fuentes but stopped short of directly criticizing Carlson for hosting him.

The controversy highlights shifting dynamics within conservative circles, with Roberts’ leadership reflecting a broader push toward populist and culture-war rhetoric.