Former GOP Lawmaker Slams Heritage Foundation for Fuentes Defense

URGENT UPDATE: Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger launched a scathing attack on Kevin Roberts, president of the far-right Heritage Foundation, during a heated segment on CNN Thursday evening. Kinzinger condemned Roberts for failing to denounce Tucker Carlson’s controversial interview with notorious white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.

This explosive exchange comes after Roberts faced backlash from within the Heritage Foundation, the organization pivotal to shaping former President Donald Trump‘s Project 2025 agenda. Staffers are reportedly divided over Roberts’ refusal to condemn Fuentes, igniting a firestorm of anger among Republicans.

During the interview, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper questioned why condemning Fuentes’ hateful rhetoric was a challenge for Republicans. “Shouldn’t all Republicans condemn Nick Fuentes’ hateful comments, full stop?” Cooper pressed. Kinzinger responded sharply, highlighting the alarming shift within the GOP: “It feels like that firewall is crumbling,” he stated.

Kinzinger pointed to Trump’s past interactions with Fuentes, recalling the former president’s invitation for him to dine at Mar-a-Lago alongside rapper Kanye West. “This is crazy,” Kinzinger emphasized, explaining that the GOP used to maintain a clear boundary against extremist views. He added, “Now, it seems like there’s no enemies to the right, even extending to Nazism.”

The situation escalated as Roberts took several days to address the controversy before finally backtracking. Kinzinger noted that while some Republicans, like Ted Cruz, spoke out quickly, the party’s struggle to distance itself from extremist ideologies is concerning. “This has to be burned right out of the party,” he insisted, lamenting the slow response to condemn such views.

As this story develops, the implications for the Republican Party and its response to extremism are becoming more evident. Observers are now closely watching how GOP leaders will navigate this internal division and whether a unified stance against hate will emerge.

Stay tuned for updates as this critical situation unfolds.