Backtalk CHRISTOPHER RUDDY / PUBLISHER
The Heritage Foundation’s Defining Crisis
F
or decades, the heritage foundation has stood as the gold standard of conservative thought. From the days of Ronald Reagan, it served as the intellectual engine that drove a
movement — pragmatic, principled, and patriotic. But today, that once-great institution faces a defining
crisis — one that threatens not only its credibility but the moral core of American conservatism itself. The crisis began not over a policy debate or a political
fight, but something far darker — a moral failing. In late October when Tucker Carlson interviewed
notorious white supremacist and antisemite Nick Fuentes, it shocked even many of his longtime admirers. Fuentes is not a “controversial figure.” He is a man whose ideology of hate and racism has no place in the mainstream, right or left. Yet bizarrely, Kevin Roberts, president of The
Heritage Foundation, rushed to defend Carlson. Rather than condemning Fuentes or acknowledging the recklessness of platforming such a figure, Roberts publicly put out a video criticizing those who dared to criticize Carlson. The backlash was immediate and fierce. From
leading Christian and Jewish organizations — including the Zionist Organization of America — to major publications like The Wall Street Journal and Newsmax, the response was unified: Heritage’s defense of Carlson was morally indefensible. Within days, Roberts and Heritage scrambled to
remove their video defending Carlson and issued a statement distancing themselves from Fuentes. Yet notably, Roberts still refused to criticize Carlson
himself for giving a megaphone to Fuentes. He also pled ignorance to Carlson’s many antisemitic claims, including that Jews secretly control America, our banks, our media, and even our president. Carlson has also implied Israel knew about the 9/11 attacks beforehand and did nothing, and that Israel has engaged in genocide in Gaza. Roberts, instead of condemning such dangerous
babble, doubled down, insisting that Carlson remained a “close personal friend.” That was not just poor judgment — it was a staggering failure of leadership. It raises a disturbing question: Has The Heritage Foundation, once the steward of conservative values, now become a patron of those spreading hate and misinformation? Not long ago, I admired Tucker Carlson. He was sharp,
106 NEWSMAX | DECEMBER 2025
often insightful, and stood as one of television’s most compelling conservative voices. He had surpassed even Bill O’Reilly in ratings and influence. But since leaving Fox News, Carlson has increasingly
gone off the rails — promoting strange alliances and dangerous narratives. For reasons that remain baffling, he has chosen to
make Israel and its leaders — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — the targets of conspiratorial scorn. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a strong supporter of Israel, is a frequent Carlson target. But what about the Heritage Board? Where is their
moral compass? This moment isn’t just about one man’s mistake — it’s
about whether the conservative movement will stand for its foundational values: faith, freedom, and truth. The resignations of major Heritage fellows like Stephen
Moore and Chris DeMuth underscore the gravity of the situation. Nearly a dozen Jewish leaders who served on Heritage’s National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism have also stepped down in protest. At Newsmax, we have been sounding the alarm on
the rise of antisemitism in America. Once confined to the fringes of the far left, it now infects both ends of the political spectrum. This crisis at The Heritage Foundation is more
than an internal scandal. It’s a moral test for the entire conservative movement. Will we tolerate antisemitism, or will we reject it —
clearly, publicly, and unequivocally? At Newsmax, the answer is clear: We will not stand
for hate in any form. We will not excuse it, sponsor it, or ignore it when it appears among our own. If Heritage continues to stand by Kevin Roberts — a
man who cannot bring himself to condemn Tucker Carlson’s antisemitism — then Heritage no longer represents the conservative movement I know and love. This is truly a defining moment for America’s conservatives — and for every one of us who still believes that moral courage matters. The conservative movement must decide: Will it stand
for truth and decency, or will it drift into darkness? For the sake of our country, I hope and pray we choose
the former. Christopher Ruddy is CEO and founder of Newsmax Media Inc.
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