In the glitzy, high-stakes world of cable news, where egos clash and ratings reign supreme, a seismic rift has erupted at Fox News, threatening to tear apart the conservative media empire. At the center of this storm are two of its biggest stars: Sean Hannity, the steadfast voice of the 9 p.m. hour, and Tucker Carlson, the provocative firebrand who once ruled 8 p.m. before his abrupt exit in 2023. What started as a seemingly routine interview on the PBD podcast with Patrick Bet-David has spiraled into a full-blown media spectacle, with Hannity’s pointed remarks about Carlson’s controversial World War II theories igniting a firestorm that’s got everyone talking. This isn’t just a disagreement—it’s a declaration of war, and the fallout is shaking the foundations of Fox News.

The stage was set for nostalgia, patriotism, and safe ground. Hannity, a Fox News mainstay for decades, sat down with Bet-David to reflect on his career, his values, and his vision for America. But when the conversation turned to Carlson, the air crackled with tension. Without naming his former colleague directly, Hannity unleashed a verbal grenade that left no doubt about his target. “There’s this view going around that somehow it’s not the best thing that we won World War II,” he said, his voice calm but laced with conviction. “To me, Winston Churchill was one of the most heroic people in our time.” The room fell silent. Bet-David’s stunned reaction mirrored what viewers would soon feel: this was no ordinary jab. This was Hannity drawing a line in the sand, calling out Carlson’s audacious claim that Churchill, not Adolf Hitler, was the true villain of World War II.

The backstory to this bombshell moment is as juicy as it gets. Carlson, who was ousted from Fox News in 2023 under murky circumstances, has been no stranger to controversy since going independent. His post-Fox platform, The Tucker Carlson Show, has become a lightning rod for polarizing takes, none more explosive than his endorsement of historian Darryl Cooper’s revisionist narrative. Cooper, a self-proclaimed historian, argued in a 2024 interview with Carlson that Churchill was the “chief villain” of the war, responsible for escalating a conflict that could have been contained. Carlson didn’t just platform Cooper—he doubled down, praising him as “the best and most honest popular historian in the United States” and later telling Piers Morgan, “So people want to tell me Churchill’s an incredible guy. Really? Well, why didn’t he save Western civilization?” The remarks sent shockwaves through conservative circles, drawing condemnation from figures like Liz Cheney and the Anti-Defamation League, who labeled them “pro-Nazi propaganda.”

Hannity, whose father served four years in the Pacific during World War II, wasn’t having it. His response on the PBD podcast was measured but unmistakable—a direct rebuke of Carlson’s narrative. “The argument is: ‘Western Civilization has not thrived since then, and Europe has declined since then,’” Hannity said, summarizing Cooper’s thesis before dismantling it with a nod to Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is only one generation away from extinction.” But it was his next line that cut deepest: “I disagree with him… but I don’t care that he has a different view. I have to be true to myself.” In that moment, Hannity didn’t just reject Carlson’s theory—he signaled a deeper rift, one that hints at personal and professional tensions simmering beneath the surface.

So, why now? Why would Hannity, known for his loyalty to the Fox News brand and his careful navigation of conservative politics, choose this moment to take on Carlson? Insiders whisper that the answer lies in the complex dynamics of their post-Fox relationship. The two men, once prime-time neighbors, have barely spoken since Carlson’s departure, with Hannity admitting on the podcast that their interactions have been limited to a condolence call when Carlson’s father died and a brief exchange over a “stupid issue.” But the real spark may have come earlier, in June 2025, when Carlson publicly blasted Hannity and other conservative hawks as “warmongers” for supporting Israel’s strikes against Iran. Carlson’s X post, which also targeted Fox News patriarch Rupert Murdoch and pundit Mark Levin, accused them of pushing for U.S. military involvement in the Middle East—a stance at odds with Carlson’s “America First” isolationism. Hannity, a vocal supporter of Israel, took the criticism personally, and sources say it deepened the growing divide between the two.

The timing of Hannity’s comments also raises eyebrows. Carlson’s exit from Fox News in April 2023 was shrouded in mystery, with reports citing everything from a toxic work environment to pressure from advertisers and legal battles over election fraud claims. Some speculate that Hannity, still a Fox News stalwart, is signaling loyalty to the network’s leadership as it navigates a post-Carlson era. Others see it as a calculated move to distance himself from Carlson’s increasingly fringe positions, which have alienated even some MAGA loyalists. “Sean’s playing the long game,” a former Fox producer told us anonymously. “He knows Tucker’s flirting with the edges of acceptability, and he’s not about to let that drag him down.”

The internet, predictably, has erupted. Clips of Hannity’s PBD interview are circulating at lightning speed, racking up millions of views before mysteriously vanishing from some platforms. X users are divided, with some hailing Hannity as a patriot defending historical truth and others accusing him of betraying Carlson, a hero to the populist right. “Hannity just threw Tucker under the bus!” posted @realTuckFrumper, while @Wandafay countered, “Hannity’s right—Churchill was a hero, not a villain!” The hashtag #FoxNewsFeud is trending, and memes pitting the two anchors against each other are flooding social media. One viral image shows Hannity as Churchill, cigar in hand, facing off against Carlson as a cartoonish contrarian, with the caption: “When your old work buddy goes full revisionist.”

But this feud is about more than World War II. It’s a proxy for a larger battle within the conservative media ecosystem. Carlson’s departure from Fox left a void, and his independent platform has given him freedom to push boundaries—sometimes too far, critics say. His embrace of controversial figures like Cooper and his criticism of Trump’s foreign policy have put him at odds with the GOP establishment, including allies like Hannity, who remains a staunch defender of traditional conservative values. The PBD podcast moment was a flashpoint, exposing a cold war that’s been brewing since Carlson’s firing. “This isn’t just about history,” says media analyst Sarah Ellison. “It’s about who gets to define the soul of the conservative movement.”

Behind the scenes, Fox News is reportedly on edge. Insiders claim the network’s leadership is wary of Carlson’s growing influence, particularly as his podcast surges in popularity, outpacing even Joe Rogan on some charts. Hannity’s comments may have been a strategic shot across the bow, a reminder that Fox still wields significant power. But there’s risk in this gambit: alienating Carlson’s loyal fanbase could cost the network viewers, especially as younger, more populist audiences gravitate toward his brand of unfiltered commentary.

For now, the feud shows no signs of cooling. Carlson has yet to respond directly to Hannity’s remarks, but those close to him say he’s unfazed, viewing the criticism as proof of his outsider status. “Tucker thrives on this,” a source close to Carlson told us. “He sees Hannity as part of the old guard, clinging to a narrative that’s losing relevance.” Meanwhile, Hannity’s camp insists he’s simply standing up for principle. “Sean’s not here to play games,” an associate said. “He respects Tucker’s right to his views but won’t let revisionist nonsense go unchallenged.”

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: this clash isn’t just about Churchill or World War II. It’s about power, loyalty, and the future of conservative media. Hannity’s declaration on the PBD podcast has blown open a rift that was long simmering, and the fallout could reshape the landscape at Fox News and beyond. Will Carlson strike back? Will Fox pick a side? Or will this cold war erupt into an all-out battle on live air? One thing’s for sure: in the cutthroat world of cable news, no one stays silent for long.