The Heritage Foundation’s antisemitism task force has split off from the institution “for a season,” exiting the conservative think-tank as its members withdraw over President Kevin Roberts’ ongoing support for anti-Israel host Tucker Carlson.
In a Thursday letter, the four co-chairs of the National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism said they were heartened by recent developments, including the exposure of the “abhorrent ideology of Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes,” but that the panel needs to stake out its independence.
“While we are encouraged with the direction that Heritage Foundation has taken thus far, it is, however, important for us to continue the work of the NTFCA outside the Heritage Foundation for a season,” said the letter to task force members, which was shared with The Washington Times.
“We want to thank and acknowledge the Heritage Foundation for originally helping to launch this Taskforce, and for the resources and support that the Heritage Foundation has provided to NTFCA since our inception,” the group said.
The co-chairs also said they would expand the task force’s work to include fighting “the rising scourge of antisemitism on the Right, beyond our previous work combatting the pro-Hamas movement on the Left.”
A conference is already on the schedule.
The task force plans to co-host an event entitled, “Exposing & Countering Extremism and Antisemitism on the Right” on Nov. 18 in partnership with the Conference of Christian Presidents for Israel.
“We encourage your participation as we seek to move forward together,” the letter said.
The panel’s decision to decouple from Heritage comes after at least a half-dozen members withdrew over Mr. Roberts’ statements in support of Mr. Carlson following his friendly interview with Mr. Fuentes, a podcast provocateur known for his antisemitic views.
Those exiting the group include the Zionist Organization of America, Coalition for Jewish Values, Young Jewish Conservatives, National Jewish Advocacy Center, the Israel Forever Foundation, the Israel Innovation Fund, and Ian Speir, Religious Freedom Institute fellow.
Others who have cut ties with the foundation include economist Stephen Moore, who said Thursday that he has resigned his position as a senior visiting fellow after 12 years.
This morning, I tendered my resignation from The Heritage Foundation’s task force on combating antisemitism. I wrote:
I cannot in good conscience stand with Heritage or continue on the task force under its current auspices. I have great respect for all of you, and I consider… https://t.co/8ErjRJOGpf
— Ian Speir (@IanSpeir) November 4, 2025
Mr. Roberts has faced calls to resign, but said at an all-staff town hall Wednesday that he plans to remain, declaring, “I made the mess, I want to clean it up.”
By “mess,” he referred to the uproar over his Oct. 30 video decrying the “venomous coalition” attacking Mr. Carlson over his softball interview with Mr. Fuentes, a 27-year-old podcaster with 1 million followers on X known for praising Adolf Hitler and attacking Israel.
Mr. Roberts posted a video after the town hall acknowledging that “venomous coalition” was a “terrible choice of words,” but also making it clear he has no intention of cutting ties with Mr. Carlson, the former Fox News Channel host who has increasingly platformed far-right fringe figures on his podcast.
“Everyone has the responsibility to speak up against the scourge of antisemitism, no matter the messenger,” Mr. Roberts said. “Heritage and I will do so, even when my friend Tucker Carlson needs challenging.”
In its letter, the task force co-chairs said they will “remain active to ensure that we do not lose the momentum we have gained over the last week.”
“The future of the Conservative movement will include a broad coalition of people that love America and all she stands for,” said the letter. “We cannot allow the Conservative movement to be corrupted and destroyed by those consumed with attacking America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and values, thereby distracting us all from the real challenges facing our nation.”
The task force’s four co-chairs are Mario Bramnick, president of the Latino Coalition for Israel; Heritage vice president Victoria Coates; Independent Women’s Forum senior fellow Ellie Cohanim; and Luke Moon, executive director of the Philos Project.
