Heritage Foundation Head Defends Tucker Carlson's Far-Right Podcast Interview Amid Conservative Split

Conservative media figure Tucker Carlson faced significant backlash after hosting white nationalist Nick Fuentes, known for antisemitic and far-right views, on his podcast. Senator Ted Cruz condemned Carlson for not challenging Fuentes's Holocaust denial and antisemitic statements, accusing him of complicity in evil. However, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts defended Carlson and criticized calls to "cancel" Fuentes, emphasizing debate over censorship and framing Carlson as a close friend. Roberts also highlighted a broader conservative divide regarding unconditional U.S. support for Israel, rejecting pressure from what he called the "globalist class." Critics, including conservative magazine National Review, faulted Carlson for insufficiently confronting Fuentes's extremist views during the interview. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions within the conservative movement over how to handle far-right figures and related foreign policy stances.