Heritage Foundation head apologizes amid antisemitism turmoil after defending Tucker Carlson

The head of the Heritage Foundation in Washington apologized Wednesday for hitting out at what he called a “venomous coalition” while defending Tucker Carlson against criticism for hosting a far-right Holocaust denier on his podcast, and appeared to create some daylight between his conservative think tank and the former Fox News host.

“My use of the phrase was a terrible choice of words. It caused justified concern, especially among friends and allies who know how seriously Heritage has fought, and continues to fight, against the rise of antisemitism,” said Kevin Roberts in a video statement.

“Everyone has the responsibility to speak up against the scourge of antisemitism, no matter the messenger. Heritage and I will do so, even when my friend Tucker Carlson needs challenging,” he added, saying “the conservative movement must be willing to wrestle with hard conversations, not avoid them.”

The video came after Roberts apologized to his staff earlier in the day for refusing to condemn Carlson over the friendly interview he conducted with Nick Fuentes.

During a tense, two-hour all-hands meeting, staff members challenged Roberts’s leadership, questioned Heritage’s credibility, and warned that his stance had gravely damaged the foundation’s relationships with Jewish partners and donors.

“I made a mistake and I let you down and I let down this institution. Period. Full stop,” Roberts said.

He specifically apologized for a comment he made defending Carlson in which he decried a “venomous coalition” attacking the commentator. The phrase, he said, was “a terrible choice of words, especially for our Jewish colleagues and friends.”

Leadership requires owning the moments where we fall short, then using them to reset, refocus, and recommit.

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Here is what we are focused on moving forward. Join us. Let’s go win! pic.twitter.com/3xtuP8NDkq

— Kevin Roberts (@KevinRobertsTX) November 6, 2025

The meeting, audio and video of which were leaked online, laid bare deep divisions inside America’s most influential conservative think tank, torn between Roberts’s attempt to mend fences and a staff revolt from within its senior ranks.

Several Heritage employees, including longtime fellows and legal scholars, told Roberts they no longer had confidence in his leadership and that he had caused the foundation lasting reputational harm.

“I made the mess, I want to clean it up,” Roberts told employees, adding that he had offered his resignation to the board but felt a “moral obligation” to stay and repair the damage.

In leaked footage from @Heritage’s recent meeting, @KevinRobertsTX admits he “made the mistake of conflating” his “personal friendship with Tucker” with the Heritage Foundation when he said they would “always support” him in last week's video.

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Roberts even said personally on… pic.twitter.com/rDvZRNPqPX

— Nathan Livingstone (MilkBarTV) (@TheMilkBarTV) November 5, 2025

Several staffers demanded that Roberts publicly repudiate Carlson. Two called for him to resign.

“You have shown a stunning lack of both courage and judgment,” said Amy Swearer, a senior legal fellow who has worked at Heritage for eight years. “I stand here today with no ability to say I have confidence in your leadership.”

“It has become increasingly difficult to continue to defend the Heritage Foundation,” added Rachel Greszler, another senior fellow. “I do not believe that you are the right person to lead.”

The confrontation followed days of turmoil triggered by Roberts’ decision to post a video in which he said Heritage would not “distance” itself from Carlson despite his friendly interview with Fuentes, a Holocaust denier who has praised Adolf Hitler. Roberts framed his position as a defense of “grace” and “free speech,” saying the right should avoid “canceling” its own.

That message sparked outrage across the political spectrum. Prominent Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz, denounced Fuentes as a “Nazi.” Jewish organizations that had partnered with Heritage on its antisemitism initiative, Project Esther, cut ties. Conservative commentators such as Ben Shapiro blasted Roberts for embracing a “no enemies to the right” ethos.

One of the most emotional moments at the meeting came during comments from Daniel Flesch, a Jewish staffer with Heritage’s Allison Center for National Security, who oversees Project Esther. He described being unable to defend Heritage to Jewish allies and friends.

“It has been six days… where as an organization we have been unable to utter the words… ‘Tucker’s an antisemite, and we as Heritage do not want to associate with him,’” Daniel said. “We are bleeding trust, reputation, perhaps donors.”

Robert Rector, a Heritage veteran of 47 years, invoked conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr., who in the 1960s sought to expel antisemitic and racist elements from the conservative movement.

“Buckley’s view was that we have to expunge all antisemitism from the movement and expel the lunatics,” Rector said. “This is what built the conservative movement. We are now reversing that.”

Hans von Spakovsky, another senior Heritage figure, warned Roberts that the think tank’s credibility could not be salvaged without a clean break from Carlson.

“The damage done to the reputation of Heritage is the worst I have ever seen,” von Spakovsky said. “If the Heritage Foundation and you do not dump Tucker Carlson publicly, we are not going to repair that damage.”

The meeting also exposed generational and ideological divides on the right. One young staffer argued that Heritage should not prioritize defending Israel and accused the leadership of promoting “Christian Zionism” — a comment that drew audible gasps.

Roberts and his deputies reaffirmed the foundation’s pro-Israel stance, but the exchange underscored how some younger conservatives, animated by online populism and isolationism, are challenging traditional right-wing support for Israel.