Heritage Foundation President Roberts Admits 'Mistake' in Carlson Defense Following Week-Long Controversy

Washington, D.C. – Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, publicly admitted to making a "mistake" in an all-hands staff meeting this week, addressing a contentious video that defended conservative media personality Tucker Carlson. The internal meeting, audio of which was obtained by The Dispatch, saw Roberts confront widespread criticism regarding the foundation's stance on Carlson, particularly after his interview with Nick Fuentes, a figure described as a "Holocaust denying neo-Nazi."

Roberts stated, "I made a mistake and I let you down and I let down this institution. Period. Full stop." He explained the original video, which decried a "venomous coalition" attacking Carlson, was intended to navigate pressure to disavow Carlson, with whom Heritage had a paid media partnership. However, he acknowledged that the process was "shortcircuited" and involved too few people, leading to phrases like "venomous coalition" being perceived as an antisemitic trope.

The controversy ignited after Carlson hosted Fuentes, prompting significant backlash from within and outside conservative circles. During the meeting, staff members voiced strong opinions, with some expressing a "stunning lack of both courage and judgment" from leadership. One long-serving staffer, Robert Rector, emphasized the historical conservative principle of setting boundaries, stating, "You have to expunge all antisemitism... and you have to expel the lunatics."

Roberts conceded that his personal friendship with Carlson was "conflated too much" with the institution's position. He clarified that while he maintains a personal relationship, "I don't think that everything or maybe even most of what he does now is helpful or good." The foundation is now focused on rebuilding trust and relationships with coalition partners who expressed concerns about Heritage's association with Carlson and his guests.