‘Shameful’: Ex-Heritage Foundation Leader Calls Out JD Vance For Not Standing Up to Anti-Semitism

CNN anchor Audie Cornish spoke to the former head of the Heritage Foundation’s National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, Laurie Cardoza-Moore, on Monday morning about her quitting the think tank following its leader’s highly controversial defense of Tucker Carlson’s platforming of white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

“I want to talk about this because, you know, you were on this board, this national task force to combat anti-Semitism, what’s known as Project Esther. And it feels as though, in the aftermath of the Gaza war, when there was so much conversation about what was happening on the left, that Republicans were, quote-unquote, stepping up in support of Israel and stepping up specifically around anti-Semitism. How has all this undermined that?” began Cornish.

“Well, I’ll tell you, it’s interesting. During the town hall meeting with Kevin Roberts, one of his staff said, and I quote, ‘Those are not the actions of a man who knows what time it is. They are not the actions of a man who knows how to tell time,’” replied Cardoza-Moore, referring to the head of the Heritage Foundation. She added:

The fact that he is supporting a neo-Nazi-supporting individual, Tucker Carlson, that tells me completely this man is not—he’s not suitable for this position. We have watched Tucker Carlson falsely accuse Israel, or the IDF specifically, of killing Christians in Gaza. This is a lie, and for him to repeat this—we have listened to even Kevin make the comment about heretics, or that Tucker is supporting heretics— That Christians are heretics because we support the state of Israel.

Cornish followed up, “Can I ask you—let me jump in here, though, because it goes way beyond Heritage in the way it’s spreading. It’s very much in the conversation in the aftermath of the death of Charlie Kirk, as people talk about his legacy. So, to give an example, J.D. Vance has been appearing at TP USA events. And at one at Ole Miss, there was a student who got up and then confronted him about U.S. support for Israel.I just want to play a bit of that for you.”

Cornish then played a clip from a TP USA event:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I’m just confused why this idea has come around, considering the fact that not only does their religion not agree with ours, but also openly supports the persecution of ours.

JD VANCE: Yes, so let me—let me say a few things about this.

First of all, when the president of the United States says America first, that means that he pursues the interests of Americans first.
So when people say that Israel is somehow manipulating or controlling the president of the United States, they’re not controlling this president of the United States.

Cornish then asked, “In this moment and others, what should JD Vance be saying?”

“Audie, this country was founded on Judeo-Christian values. That is part of our history. It is part of our heritage. So for J.D. Vance to not communicate that message to the audience, these kids—you have to remember this: These kids have been indoctrinated with anti-American, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel sentiment in their curriculum in K-12 education,” Cardoza-Moore replied, adding:

So although I’m shocked about what the students at Ole Miss are saying, I am not surprised. This is a growing problem throughout our country. America is the strongest ally. We have—we call the state of Israel an aircraft carrier in the Middle East for the United States of America. The United States benefits in so many different ways, from technology to medicine to intelligence.

And for JD Vance to not clearly articulate this message to these young people who are going to be our up-and-coming leaders is shameful.

Watch the clip above via CNN.