Heritage Foundation faces internal turmoil over antisemitism allegations

The Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative think tank, is under renewed scrutiny after former staff members reported that new hires have entertained antisemitic conspiracy theories and debated the reality of the Holocaust. In interviews cited by The New York Times Magazine and Jewish Insider, analyst Andrew Hale said younger employees “openly said things which were antisemitic, whether they realized it or not,” linking their views to far‑right influencers such as Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens. Heritage spokesperson Brian Phillips called the claims “absurd” and asserted that “there is no debate at the Heritage Foundation whether the Holocaust happened.”

The controversy intensified after Heritage president Kevin Roberts refused to distance the organization from Carlson’s platform, prompting a wave of resignations. Dozens of staff members left for rival think tank Advancing American Freedom, founded by former Vice President Mike Pence. Former insiders describe the internal clash as a battle between an “old guard” of establishment experts and a newer, more radical cohort, dubbing the exodus the “Heritage Hunger Games.”