Analysts say internal divisions within the MAGA (Make America Great Again, the core base of President Donald Trump) camp are becoming visible as key personnel at the Heritage Foundation, a leading conservative think tank in the United States, have left in large numbers.
According to Bloomberg on the 22nd, key personnel at the Heritage Foundation collectively resigned over the weekend. The size of the departures is not precisely known, but at least 10 people are believed to have left, and many of them are set to move to a rival think tank.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that about 15 Heritage Foundation staffers, including senior officials, are set to be recruited by another Washington think tank, Advancing American Freedom (AAF). The think tank was founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, who was once close to President Trump but became his nemesis after the 2020 election loss.
Regarding the recruitment, Pence said, "The reason they are coming to us is because the Heritage Foundation has embraced populism that favors big government and willingly tolerated antisemitism," adding, "The Heritage Foundation is abandoning its principles." According to AAF, the organization has raised a sum exceeding eight figures (tens of millions of dollars) for new hiring.
The Heritage Foundation is a leading think tank that has wielded tremendous influence in the U.S. conservative camp. In particular, it was seen as entering a heyday as many parts of the "Project 2025" documents laying out the blueprint for the second Trump administration were actually adopted, but recently, its standing has been said to be shaken amid internal strife over antisemitism controversies and policy confusion.
In particular, the conduct of the head of the Heritage Foundation is seen as accelerating divisions inside and outside the foundation. In November, Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, defended conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who sparked controversy by interviewing a far-right youth who denies the Holocaust, declaring he would "always stand with him as a close friend," a stance that drew backlash from moderate conservatives.
Roberts especially lashed out at Carlson's critics, saying a "venomous coalition" was attacking Carlson and sowing the seeds of division, remarks that triggered strong resistance from activists opposing antisemitism. Over the incident, Roberts issued an apology statement, and within a month, three members of the foundation's board resigned in an unprecedented development.
The foundation says it is not particularly concerned about the departures. Andy Olivastro, chief advancement officer (CAO), said in a statement that "a small number of employees chose a different path," adding, "Our mission remains unchanged, and our leadership is strong and resolute."
Still, Washington's political circles see this episode as bringing to the surface a crisis within the MAGA camp. As the president's job approval continues to fall and some say he is facing an "early lame duck" phase, conflicts within the Republican Party over policies for the "post-Trump" era after the presidential term are growing.
President Trump's job approval, which topped 50% early in his term, has plunged rapidly in recent days. According to a survey released on the 17th by PBS, NPR, and the polling firm Marist, approval of Trump's economic policy was 36%, the lowest across both his first and second terms.