Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts is publicly backing Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, after the conservative podcaster’s interview with Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes sparked significant backlash from within the GOP. Roberts, in a video posted to X, denounced the ‘venomous coalition’ that has criticized Carlson, stating their attempts to cancel him will fail. He affirmed that Carlson remains a ‘close friend’ of the Heritage Foundation and that he ‘will always be.’
Roberts, whose group launched ‘Project Esther’ to combat antisemitism, expressed disagreement with Fuentes’ views but argued that canceling him is not the answer. This comes as Carlson faces criticism from conservatives over an interview with Fuentes that was laced with antisemitism. Carlson called GOP supporters of Israel, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), suffering from a ‘brain virus,’ while Fuentes claimed the ‘big challenge’ to unifying the country was ‘organized Jewry.’ Huckabee, who is set to speak at the Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership conference, dismissed the criticism, stating he was ‘not aware that Tucker despises me.’
Cruz defended Huckabee, calling him a ‘pastor and a patriot who loves America, loves Israel, and loves Jesus.’ However, the criticism of Carlson highlights the growing divide within the Republican Party over how to address antisemitism following a series of incidents involving right-wing figures. Recent events included an explosive Telegram group chat among Young Republican members that joked about the Holocaust and praised Adolf Hitler, a staffer for Rep. Dave Taylor’s office was seen with a flag featuring a Nazi symbol, and Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel, claimed he has ‘a Nazi streak.’
Several Young Republican chapters were dissolved, and participants in the group chat were fired or resigned from their jobs. Capitol police investigated the Nazi flag found in Taylor’s office. Ingrassia withdrew his nomination days later amid opposition from within the Senate GOP. The incidents have divided the GOP, with some officials denouncing the racist texts, while others, following Vice President JD Vance’s lead, have tried to shift attention to Democrats amid their own scandals. This ongoing debate reflects the broader tensions within the party over the handling of antisemitism and the role of right-wing figures in shaping the party’s direction.