The president of the Heritage Foundation – Kevin Roberts – has issued an apology. His statement follows a weekend of condemnation for promoting a conservative podcast that hosted notorious white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Since his appointment in 2021, Roberts has directed the quasi-governmental think tank to a right-wing and Trump-centric agenda. With his PhD in history, he provides a critical eye on this transformation. His recent comments have created a controversial firestorm, especially about the increase of antisemitism.
The uproar began when Roberts defended Tucker Carlson, who hosted Fuentes on his show without challenging the extremist views expressed by the guest. Fuentes has a history of being ostracized by mainstream conservatives for his own incendiary remarks, such as condemning Jews and celebrating Hitler. He famously asserted that “organized Jewry” exercised disproportionate power and made hideous comparisons to the Holocaust.
While Roberts has decried Fuentes’s extremist tiki torch fascist anti-semitism, usually stating that he “abhors” such viewpoints. In reality, he admitted, he didn’t know all that much about Fuentes before the podcast taping. The new disclosure has led to unprecedented criticism of Roberts’s judgment. Lot of folks are asking about the Heritage Foundation’s association with Fuentes, a fellow who famously stated, “I think the Holocaust is exaggerated…I don’t hate Hitler.”
The Roberts I used to know had once called all of Carlson’s critics a “venomous coalition.” However, following backlash, he recognized this phrase as a “terrible choice of words,” which caused “justified concern” among individuals worried about the rising tide of antisemitism.
“Everyone has the responsibility to speak up against the scourge of antisemitism, no matter the messenger.” – Kevin Roberts
The Heritage Foundation, known for its conservative policies and influence in American politics, has been increasingly aligned with Trump-era rhetoric under Roberts’s leadership. This transformation can be seen in his spearheading of Project 2025, a right-wing blueprint for creating future conservative governance.
In the wake of this press firestorm, Roberts apologized for his unfulfilled promise. He candidly admitted that those comments fueled the public’s perception that we’re out to crush people with tickets.
“I made a mistake and I let you down and I let down this institution. Period. Full Stop,” – Kevin Roberts
From multiple angles, critics have raised problems with what can be taken from Roberts’s defense of Carlson and Fuentes. Robert Rector, a prominent figure in conservative circles, remarked, “The issue here is [Tucker Carlson] … Tucker’s show is like stepping into a lunatic asylum.” This extraordinary statement further emphasizes the emerging concerns found even within right-wing ranks about the impact of extremism on the movement’s future.
The fight against Roberts should provoke an important conversation on the right. They’re confused over how to best address the increasingly severe threats of antisemitism and extremist ideologies. William F. Buckley Jr. once advocated for the expulsion of extremists from conservative movements, stating they should “expunge all antisemitism and expel the lunatics.” For these reasons, the Heritage Foundation is not without the critical eye of public opinion, its affiliated institutions, and the path it chooses to go ahead.
Roberts’s comments have triggered discussions on social media and among political commentators about the role of prominent conservative figures in confronting or enabling hate speech. Others contend that giving platform to figures like Fuentes brings serious risk to civil discourse itself and defeats the purpose of efforts aimed at countering bigotry.