Problem Having User Download a File

I'm attempting to have laravel download a file during an ajax call. Everything is running smoothly with no errors, however no file is downloaded on the user's side. The check on the if statement is returning as true, so the file is there.

$file = 'json/fs_'.strtolower($entry->country).'.json';


            if(Storage::disk('public')->exists($file)){
                Storage::disk('public')->delete($file);
                Storage::disk('public')->put($file, json_encode($entry));
    
            }
        }


        Storage::disk('public')->download($file);
        
        return response()->json(['success' => $country]);