Former Vice President Mike Pence is recruiting senior staff from the Heritage Foundation to expand his policy shop, Advancing American Freedom, in a move that underscores growing fractures within the conservative movement.
President Donald Trump selected Mike Pence as his running mate in 2016. Once top allies, their relationship soured after Pence refused to try to shut down the certification of the 2020 election. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
New Think Tank, New Direction
At 66, Pence is scaling up Advancing American Freedom and told The Wall Street Journal the organization will oppose tariffs, isolationist policies and what he describes as "big‑government populism." He also said the group will promote stronger U.S. support for Ukraine and resist elevating prominent MAGA‑aligned figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who does not have medical or public‑health credentials.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, right, had a fiery falling out with President Donald Trump after the 2020 election. He is now among the president’s top foes—though he has, to this point, struggled to regain significant sway in the GOP. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Staff Exodus From Heritage
Advancing American Freedom is reportedly hiring about 15 employees from the Heritage Foundation, among them John Malcolm, director of Heritage’s legal and judicial studies center; Kevin Dayaratna, who led data analysis; and Richard Stern, head of economic policy studies. The Wall Street Journal reports that seven additional defections are from Malcolm’s team.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts is bleeding staff in the wake of him defending Tucker Carlson over his lengthy softball interview with the known antisemite Nick Fuentes. / Dominic Gwinn / Middle East Images/AFP via Getty
Heritage Responds
The departures prompted a sharp response from the Heritage Foundation. Andy Olivastro, Heritage’s chief advancement officer, said some of the departing staffers had been terminated for "conduct inconsistent with Heritage’s mission and standards," though he did not detail the conduct. In a statement, Heritage emphasized that loyalty to the institution and alignment with its mission are "non‑negotiable."
Donald Trump Jr. was among the MAGA figures who mocked those departing the Heritage Foundation. / Olivier Touron / AFP via Getty Images
Underlying Controversy
The exodus followed controversy over a video posted by Heritage president Kevin Roberts defending Tucker Carlson’s interview with Nick Fuentes, a figure widely associated with white‑nationalist views and antisemitism. Roberts faced heavy criticism from staff, and several board members subsequently resigned. Roberts later apologized for his comments but has declined to remove the clip from his social accounts, according to reporting.
Political Fallout
Pro‑Trump voices quickly weighed in. Donald Trump Jr. called the departures "great news for Heritage," and conservative consultant Alex Bruesewitz welcomed the turnover as an opportunity for pro‑Trump hires. The episode highlights growing tensions between establishment conservatives and the MAGA wing as top Republicans — including Pence, who ran in the 2024 presidential cycle without winning a primary — jockey for influence ahead of the next presidential transition.
"Why these people are coming our way is that Heritage and some other voices and commentators have embraced big‑government populism and have been willing to tolerate antisemitism," Pence told The Wall Street Journal.
The developments signal a broader debate within the GOP over ideology, personnel and direction, with implications for policy battles on trade, foreign affairs and the party’s mainstreaming of controversial figures.
