Jewish Exodus from Heritage Foundation’s Antisemitism Initiative
Project Esther, a conservative effort launched to fight antisemitism, is facing significant setbacks after Heritage Foundation’s president defended Tucker Carlson for a sympathetic interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
This initiative, a flagship campaign created under the Heritage Foundation's National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, is rapidly losing supporters. At least eight individuals and groups associated with Project Esther have resigned or threatened to quit in protest of Heritage president Kevin Roberts’ support of Carlson. Roberts described critics of Carlson as a “venomous coalition,” which intensified the controversy.
Project Esther was originally unveiled on the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack as a conservative “national strategy to counter antisemitism.” However, the recent resignations signal that the initiative might be falling apart.
The co-chairs of Project Esther and the Heritage Foundation have not commented publicly on the resignations. However, during a speech at Hillsdale College, a hub for modern Christian conservatism, Roberts acknowledged the pain felt by Jews affiliated with Heritage.
“Venomous coalition” — Kevin Roberts describing critics of Tucker Carlson.
Project Esther’s future is uncertain amid rising tensions within the Heritage Foundation and its partners.
Author’s summary: Heritage Foundation’s antisemitism project, Project Esther, is unraveling due to internal conflict over defending Tucker Carlson’s interview with a white nationalist, leading to multiple resignations.