Heritage Foundation president slams Nick Fuentes over controversial views on Holocaust, antisemitism

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts on Friday condemned controversial right-wing conspiracy theorist Nick Fuentes, a day after he refused to condemn former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's interview with the man.

Roberts came under scrutiny for not condemning the interview or separating from Carlson, though he stated that antisemitism should be condemned. He also clarified Christians can oppose Israel without being antisemitic. 

The think-tank leader said he "abhorred" views expressed by Fuentes, and posted online Friday that the foundation opposes the far-right activist's alleged views on the Holocaust, Judaism, rape, child marriage and women. 

"Fuentes made grotesque analogies to try to cast doubt on the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust and has said 'I think the Holocaust is exaggerated. I don't hate Hitler,'" Roberts wrote on X. "Fuentes called for the death penalty for 'perfidious Jews' and other non-Christians, stating that 'when we take power, they need to be given the death penalty.'”  

Roberts also highlighted Fuentes' comments on admiring former Russian leader Joseph Stalin, which he made in the Carlson interview, and his declaration that black people should be jailed "for the most part."

"Racism and antisemitism are not relics of the past," Roberts said. "They have blossomed on the Left on university campuses and grown on the Right through figures like Fuentes. 

"Nick Fuentes's antisemitism is not complicated, ironic, or misunderstood," he continued. "It is explicit, dangerous, and demands our unified opposition as conservatives. Fuentes knows exactly what he is doing."

Roberts said that the job of conservative leaders and the Heritage Foundation is to challenge the thinking of people like Fuentes through debates.

The leader's comments come after former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz slammed the foundation for not taking a tougher stance on the interview.

“The ‘intellectual backbone of the conservative movement’ is only as strong as the values it defends,” McConnell wrote on X. “Last I checked, conservatives should feel no obligation’ to carry water for antisemites and apologists for America-hating autocrats. But maybe I just don’t know what time it is.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.