Heritage Foundation in Turmoil After President Defends Controversial Fox Host

By Newsmax Wires | Monday, 03 November 2025 11:12 PM EST

The Heritage Foundation, one of Washington’s most influential conservative think tanks, has faced internal chaos following its president Kevin Roberts’ public defense of Tucker Carlson after the former Fox News host aired a controversial interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes.

Internal chats revealed senior staff described themselves as “embarrassed” and “disgusted” by Roberts’ response to Carlson’s two-hour interview with Fuentes, who has denied the Holocaust and praised totalitarian leaders. One staffer wrote, “This is the most embarrassed I’ve ever been to be a Heritage employee. It’s not close,” while another called Roberts’ defense “ridiculous” and questioned how “a premeditated and orchestrated response” could come from a leading conservative institution.

The controversy began after Carlson’s interview with Fuentes, which garnered over 17 million views on X. In the conversation, Fuentes referred to himself as a “fan” of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, attacked “organized Jewry,” and dismissed Christian support for Israel. Carlson accused American Christians who back the Jewish state of being “heretics” afflicted by a “brain virus.”

Three days later, Roberts released a video statement decrying attempts to “cancel our own people” and defending Carlson as a “close friend of the Heritage Foundation.” His remarks, viewed over 23 million times, described the backlash against Carlson as “venomous” and “sowing division.” Roberts claimed he disagreed with Fuentes’ rhetoric but argued canceling him was not the answer.

The statement deepened internal outrage. 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 led to resignations, including that of Roberts’ chief of staff, Ryan Neuhaus, who was reassigned and later left the organization. Jewish scholar David Bernstein, a former member of Heritage’s anti-antisemitism task force, also departed, criticizing Roberts’ remarks as an attack on Jewish political agency.

Sources said the foundation has lost support from evangelical Christian and Jewish donors since Roberts’ comments. References to Heritage’s sponsorship of “The Tucker Carlson Network” were reportedly removed from its donations page. Prominent board members, including Princeton University professor Robert P. George, have privately and publicly urged Roberts’ removal, citing concerns over white supremacy and hatred of Jews.

Despite the turmoil, Heritage representatives confirmed Roberts retains board support. A follow-up statement by Roberts clarified he opposed Fuentes’ “vicious antisemitic ideology” but emphasized free speech. The think tank is set to hold a staff town hall where Roberts will address the controversy directly.

The episode highlights growing divisions within the conservative movement, with Sen. Ted Cruz warning of rising antisemitism on the right.