The Heritage Foundation continues to face significant internal and external backlash following its president's defense of former Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson's controversial interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes.
Former Task Force Member Demands Leadership Change
Laurie Cardoza-Moore, who recently resigned from the conservative think tank's antisemitism task force, publicly called for Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts to step down from his position. During a Monday interview with CNN "This Morning," Cardoza-Moore declared that Roberts had become unsuitable for leadership.
"He is not suitable for this position any longer," Cardoza-Moore stated regarding Roberts. "He did not clearly articulate what is happening with Tucker Carlson with these lies." She expressed particular outrage at Roberts initially dismissing concerns about Carlson's interview with Fuentes.
Cardoza-Moore founded the Christian Zionist organization Proclaiming Justice to The Nations and resigned from the Heritage Foundation's National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism last week. Her departure stemmed directly from concerns about Roberts' defense of Carlson following the commentator's sympathetic interview with the known white supremacist.
Heritage Foundation's Response and Backtracking
When questioned about Cardoza-Moore's criticism, Heritage Foundation spokesperson Cody Sargent referenced statements Roberts made about combating antisemitism. These included denouncing Fuentes' "antisemitic ideology" and committing to address "the scourge of antisemitism no matter the messenger."
Roberts initially responded to criticism of Carlson's interview by dismissing right-wing critiques and characterizing them as efforts by a "venomous coalition" to cancel the commentator. However, following significant backlash that included criticism from Heritage Foundation employees, Roberts apologized for his handling of the situation.
According to video obtained and published by The Washington Free Beacon, Roberts admitted he had made a "mistake" in his initial response. The Free Beacon also reported that Roberts expressed openness to stepping down but wanted an opportunity to address the controversy he created.
Broader Conservative Backlash and Consequences
The Heritage Foundation faced criticism from prominent conservative figures including Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and commentator Ben Shapiro, who blasted the organization's weak initial response to the Carlson-Fuentes interview.
Leaders of the antisemitism task force announced plans to sever ties with the think tank, stating they would continue their work outside the Heritage Foundation "for a season." This represents a significant blow to the organization's credibility on combating antisemitism.
Cardoza-Moore argued that "the Heritage Foundation has lost its mooring" and needs new leadership knowledgeable about "American history with Israel, with the Jewish people."
The controversy emerges alongside a Politico report revealing young conservatives expressing racist and antisemitic sentiments in private group chats, indicating broader concerns about normalization of antisemitism within conservative circles.
As HuffPost's Lydia O'Connor reported, Carlson allowed Fuentes to speak largely unchecked during their interview, permitting comments about problems with "organized Jewry in America" and Fuentes' declaration of being a longtime "fan" and "admirer" of Joseph Stalin with minimal challenge.
Fuentes has long been known for expressing sexist, racist, and antisemitic views, including promoting Holocaust denial and expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler.
Cardoza-Moore concluded that "people like Tucker Carlson and the leadership at the Heritage Foundation, under Kevin Roberts, are helping to fuel this because they're not clearly articulating what really is happening."
