Carlson had been among the highest-rated hosts on cable news as he peddled conspiracy theories and white nationalist talking points. He and Fox News parted ways in 2023 after the right-wing network settled a defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million related to repeated lies on the news channel about election fraud.

The contentious interview is drawing more attention to the divide between conservatives on military action in the country.