The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind “Project 2025,” is reportedly in turmoil after its president defended Tucker Carlson for hosting Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist who often expresses antisemitic views, on his podcast. Fuentes used the interview with Carlson to complain about what he called “organized Jewry in America” and described himself as “a fan” of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, who is responsible for the deaths of millions of his own people, many of whom were Jewish.
Heritage Foundation’s president, Kevin Roberts, posted a video in defense of Carlson that condemned a “venomous coalition” and “the globalist elite class” for targeting Carlson, whom Roberts considers “a close friend of the Heritage Foundation.”
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Fallout from Roberts defense of Carlson
According to The Washington Post, multiple Heritage employees and other conservatives argued that Roberts’ remarks play on antisemitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories.
Roberts reportedly tried to control the damage following a week of resignations and criticism over his defense of Carlson.
“I made a mistake and I let you down and I let down this institution. Period. Full stop,” Roberts told employees in a video of Wednesday’s meeting obtained by The Washington Free Beacon. Roberts added that he is willing to step down but felt a “moral obligation” to fix the fallout. He told the foundation’s board of directors: “I made this mess, let me clean it up.”
He went on to apologize for his “terrible choice of words, especially for our Jewish colleagues and friends,” in his description of critics of Carlson’s friendly interview with Fuentes as a “venomous coalition” and the “globalist elite class,” according to the Free Beacon.
Some staffers reportedly called for Roberts’ resignation at the meeting.
However, after footage of the meeting was leaked, Roberts appeared to reconsider his offer to step down.
“I’m staying. I’m all in,” he said in a post on X Thursday.
Roberts credited Heritage Foundation senior fellow Mike Gonzalez for reconsidering his move, writing to Gonzalez, “I love you brother. I took your advice, went back to my office, and thought about it.”
But the staff meeting became a sounding board for complaints, with calls for Roberts to resign and concerns by some Christian employees that they would be forced to participate in Jewish rituals, according to The Post.
At least five members of Heritage’s antisemitism task force have now reportedly quit in protest.
Roberts said he’s still a close friend of Carlson’s
The Post reported that Roberts acknowledged Heritage was “wordsmithing and workshopping” language over how to move away from Carlson, though Roberts vowed to remain a close friend of Carlson. He described Fuentes as an “evil person” but also a figure who “has an audience of several million people, and at least some of that audience might be open to be converted” away from far-right views.
Fuentes has not responded to the report.
But at the meeting, Roberts reportedly claimed that he “didn’t know much about this Fuentes guy.” He added, “I still don’t,” according to The Washington Free Beacon.
‘Final straw’ for some
At the meeting, legal fellow Amy Swearer reportedly called Roberts’ attempt at damage control “a master class in cowardice that ran cover for the most unhinged dregs of the far right” and said there has been a loss of confidence in the foundation’s leadership.
Roberts was questioned about his use of the word “globalists,” which is associated with an antisemitic conspiracy theory. He replied that he didn’t intend to criticize anyone of a specific faith, The Post reported.
Robert Rector, a welfare scholar, who reportedly described himself as a 47-year veteran of the foundation, invoked the founder of the National Review, conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr.
“The boundaries that he set forth, William Buckley, in the early 1960s, were twofold,” Rector reportedly told Roberts. “You have to expunge all antisemitism, all of it. But that’s just part of it. … The other is you have to expel the lunatics. OK?”
“The issue here is Tucker Carlson,” Rector said, describing the podcast as “a lunatic asylum.”
Some employees pushed back against criticism of Roberts. One reportedly asked what would happen to employees who agreed with Roberts and another compared staffers talking to reporters to “Judas.” Evan Myers, Roberts’ speechwriter, expressed concerns that Heritage’s effort to address alleged antisemitism would ultimately mean he would be forced to attend a Shabbat dinner, which he argues is against his beliefs, as reported by The Post.
Another Heritage executive reportedly took issue with Myers’ remarks, saying, “I’m deeply sorry that you could not see that as a generous offer but rather a personal attack on you.”
One researcher with Heritage reportedly told Roberts that his latest attempt to quell criticism was the “final straw” for her.
According to the Free Beacon, Heritage’s chief operating officer, Eric Korsvall, threatened any employee caught leaking video of the meeting with termination.
Roberts later released a statement that pledged no staffer who spoke up would face discipline. “That’s not how we operate at Heritage,” he said. “We value all of our people, appreciate their service, and stand unequivocally with those denouncing antisemitism.”
Others downplay reportedly tense meeting
Other Heritage officials downplayed the meeting’s tense interactions. Chief advancement officer Andy Olivastro told The Post that Wednesday’s gathering included “our usual spirit of candor.”
“Our work at Heritage is difficult — but necessary — and requires open dialogue like the one we had today.” Olivastro added.
