Kevin Roberts, the President of the Heritage Foundation, is currently at the center of a whirlwind of disapproval from conservatives.
This backlash comes after Roberts publicly supported Tucker Carlson's amicable interview with Nick Fuentes, a self-proclaimed racist and antisemite. In a video that surfaced, Roberts lauded Carlson as "a courageous truth-teller" and "a friend of Heritage," while downplaying the controversy surrounding Carlson's decision to provide Fuentes with a platform.
According to Newsmax, Roberts stated, "The American people expect us to be focusing on our political adversaries on the left, not attacking our friends on the right." He continued, "I disagree with, and even abhor, things that Nick Fuentes says, but canceling him is not the answer either."
The interview, which aired on Monday, saw Carlson largely avoid challenging Fuentes, and he even referred to some GOP supporters of Israel as "Christian Zionists" who have been "seized by this brain virus."
Fred Fleitz, a vice chair of the America First Policy Institute and Newsmax contributor, expressed his disapproval on Friday. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms Tucker Carlson's growing and inexplicable antisemitism and hatred of Israel," Fleitz wrote. "I also condemn Carlson's deplorable decision to have notorious antisemite and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes on his show."
Roberts defended Carlson by arguing against what he termed a "venomous coalition" that was attacking Carlson and "sowing division." He emphasized that the Heritage Foundation encourages "robust debate with our colleagues, our movement friends, our members and the American public."
However, Roberts' comments sparked immediate outrage within the conservative movement and the Jewish community. Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, expressed his disgust at the Heritage Foundation's decision to defend Carlson. "This isn't about free speech," Brooks said. "It's about mainstreaming antisemitism and giving legitimacy to white-supremacist ideology."
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, labeled the remarks as "a moral failure" and cautioned that conservative leaders must "confront antisemitism head-on or risk losing credibility with the American people." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, described Roberts' video as "deeply disturbing an embrace of antisemitism and white-supremacist conspiracy theories."
Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and U.S. ambassador to Israel, also distanced himself from the interview, stating it was "neither conservative nor Christian." He warned against confusing legitimate debate over U.S.-Israel policy with "hate in disguise."
In the face of escalating criticism, Roberts seemed to partially retract his initial comments. He posted a lengthy statement on Friday that read: "Racism and antisemitism are not relics of the past. They have blossomed on the Left on university campuses and grown on the Right through figures like Fuentes.
Nick Fuentes' antisemitism is not complicated, ironic, or misunderstood. It is explicit, dangerous, and demands our unified opposition as conservatives. Fuentes knows exactly what he is doing. He is fomenting Jew hatred, and his incitements are not only immoral and un-Christian, they risk violence."
Newsmax reached out to the Heritage Foundation for additional commentary on Roberts' initial post, particularly why he did not criticize Carlson for giving Fuentes such a platform. Roberts' decision to support Carlson reflects the evolving identity of Heritage under his leadership.
Since assuming his role in 2021, he has steered the institution towards a more populist, culture-war stance. His recent defense of Carlson underscores this shift, indicating a newfound willingness to support controversial figures, even at the expense of mainstream acceptance.
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