Robert P. George, the McCormick professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, announced Nov. 17 that he has stepped down from the Heritage Foundation’s board of trustees after the organization’s president defended Tucker Carlson for interviewing Nick Fuentes.
In a Facebook post, George said he could not remain on the board without a “full retraction” of Heritage President Kevin Roberts’ Oct. 30 video in which he criticized conservative efforts to “cancel our own people” while defending Carlson. Roberts later apologized for some language used in the video but did not withdraw it entirely.
“Although Kevin publicly apologized for some of what he said in the video, he could not offer a full retraction of its content,” George wrote. “So, we reached an impasse.”
He added that he hopes Heritage will remain “unbending and unflinching” in its commitment to “the moral principles of the Judeo-Christian tradition and the civic principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.”
Carlson’s interview with Fuentes, who has long drawn condemnation for antisemitic remarks and Holocaust skepticism, quickly divided conservatives. Some argued Carlson granted Fuentes an undeserved platform, while others backed the decision as a matter of free speech and open debate.
Carlson defended the interview in a Nov. 6 appearance on “The Megyn Kelly Show,” noting that he has spoken with “bad people” before and does not endorse their views. President Donald Trump, when asked about the episode earlier this month, said Carlson is free to make his own editorial decisions.
“You can’t tell him who to interview,” Trump said.
He later added, “Meeting people, talking to people — for somebody like Tucker — that’s what they do. You know, people are controversial. Some are, some aren’t.”
In his Oct. 30 video, Roberts said the Heritage Foundation welcomes “robust debate” and rejects calls for “canceling our own people or policing the consciences of Christians.” He argued that Christians can critique the state of Israel without being antisemitic but stressed antisemitism “should be condemned.”
“My loyalty as a Christian and as an American is to Christ first and to America always,” Roberts said. “When it serves the interest of the United States to cooperate with Israel and other allies, we should do so with partnerships on security, intelligence, and technology. But when it doesn’t, conservatives should feel no obligation to reflexively support any foreign government.”
Roberts also accused a “venomous coalition” of trying to “cancel” Carlson, whom he called a “close friend of the Heritage Foundation.” While he emphasized that he “abhorred” many of Fuentes’ views and issued subsequent statements identifying specific ideas of Fuentes’ with which he disagreed, the message sparked backlash inside Heritage and prompted a contentious all-staff meeting.
Roberts later released a second video Nov. 5, apologizing for his “terrible choice of words.” He said his use of the phrase “venomous coalition” caused “justified concern” and added that conservatives must speak out against antisemitism, including when “my friend Tucker Carlson needs challenging.”
“Kevin is a good man. He made what he acknowledged was a serious mistake. Being human myself, I have plenty of experience in making mistakes,” George said in a statement announcing his departure from the board. “What divided us was a difference of opinion about what was required to rectify the mistake.”
George added that he was sad to leave.
“I have great affection and esteem for Barb Gaby, who chairs the board, and my other board colleagues,” he said, “I wish them and the Heritage Foundation the very best.”
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