Overview
- Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts posted a video saying the group would not distance itself from Tucker Carlson, calling critics a “venomous coalition” and rejecting efforts to “cancel” him.
- After intense criticism, Roberts issued a follow-up statement explicitly denouncing Nick Fuentes’ antisemitism, Holocaust denial and rhetoric, while maintaining that the answer is to challenge ideas rather than ban speakers.
- Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell publicly rebuked Roberts’ stance, with Cruz blasting silence in the face of pro-Hitler claims and McConnell warning that conservative institutions are defined by the values they defend.
- The Republican Jewish Coalition said it would reassess its relationship with Heritage, and some Heritage staff voiced dissent over treating Fuentes’ views as worthy of debate.
- MAGA-aligned figures including Steve Bannon praised Roberts’ position, and Roberts’ video drew far more views than Carlson’s Fuentes interview, heightening the dispute’s visibility.