Key Highlights
- Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts announced staff reassignments in response to the controversy over Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes.
- Derrick Morgan was appointed as acting chief of staff until the end of the year, while Ryan Neuhaus was reassigned to a senior adviser role.
- R Roberts defended his stance on antisemitism and cancel culture in an email to staff, emphasizing moral courage and conviction.
- The changes were made to ensure focus and excellence during this critical moment for the think tank.
Heritage Foundation Faces Staff Shake-Up Amid Tucker Carlson Controversy
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts announced significant staff reassignments on Friday, December 1, 2025, in response to a conservative uproar over his statement defending Tucker Carlson for interviewing white nationalist Nick Fuentes. The move comes amid a broader debate within the conservative movement regarding antisemitism and who is deemed worthy of public discourse.
Reassignment of Key Staff Members
R Roberts tapped Derrick Morgan, the think tank’s executive vice president, to serve as acting chief of staff until the end of 2025. Ryan Neuhaus, who had been serving in this role, was reassigned to be a senior adviser. Roberts made these announcements in an email to staff late on Friday with the subject line: “Heritage’s Stand Against Antisemitism and for Civilizational Truth.”
Roberts emphasized that Heritage has “launched and expanded numerous explicit efforts to combat antisemitism” under his leadership, stating, “Our position on Israel is principled and balanced: there’s a great deal of space between believing Israel can do no wrong and blaming it for every wrong.” He further noted that the organization is “also standing firm against cancel culture,” adding, “rejecting cancel culture does not mean tolerating evil.”
Defense of Carlson and Fuentes
In a video statement posted on Thursday, Roberts defended Tucker Carlson by asserting that “the American people expect us to be focusing on our political adversaries on the left, not attacking our friends on the right.” This defense led to significant backlash from both within and outside Heritage. In response, Roberts elaborated in his Friday email, stating, “He is fomenting Jew hatred, and his incitements are not only immoral and un-Christian, they risk violence.”
Conservative Movement’s Response
The controversy has sparked broader conversations about antisemitism within the conservative movement. Heritage board trustee Robert P. George, professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, wrote in a post on social platform X, “The conservative movement, though it can and should be a broad tent, simply cannot include or accommodate white supremacists or racists of any type, antisemites, eugenicists, or others whose ideologies are incompatible with belief in the inherent and equal dignity of all.” George continued, “I will not — I cannot — accept the idea that we have ‘no enemies to the right.'”
Roberts also defended Heritage’s stance by saying, “At Heritage, we understand the moment we are in.
This is a time for moral courage and conviction.” He added, “This structure ensures we close the year strong — united and disciplined,” reflecting that as a team they must continue to integrate, adapt, and move faster to deliver on their vision.
The changes were made with the goal of ensuring focus and excellence during this critical moment for the think tank. Roberts stated in his email, “Ryan remains a vital part of our team and is joining the Simon Center as a Senior Advisor to work on critical issues including housing.”
This move reflects the ongoing internal debates within conservative circles regarding ideological purity and public discourse, highlighting the complex dynamics at play in shaping policy and political narratives. The shake-up underscores the evolving landscape of right-wing think tanks navigating the delicate balance between maintaining ideological coherence and addressing pressing social concerns.
