Heritage President Defends Carlson After Fuentes Interview

Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts publicly defended former Fox host Tucker Carlson after Carlson aired a lengthy interview with white‑nationalist and antisemitic activist Nick Fuentes, saying the foundation will not distance itself, rejecting calls to “cancel” him and describing Carlson as a “close friend.” Roberts said antisemitism should be condemned but that Christians can critique the State of Israel without being antisemitic, and he warned against reflexive support for foreign governments and a so‑called “globalist class.” The Fuentes interview, which featured overt antisemitic and white‑supremacist remarks, prompted backlash from many conservatives, Jewish leaders and others, even as some Republicans defended figures tied to Carlson. Observers noted Heritage’s prior ties to Carlson — including a donation page that briefly removed references to him — and Roberts’ comments drew scrutiny because they followed the group’s recent anti‑antisemitism efforts such as “Project Esther.” The episode has intensified debate within the conservative movement over antisemitism and the extent of U.S. support for Israel.