Donald Trump’s top counterterrorism official, Joe Kent, has resigned over the US war in Iran, urging the president to “change course.” Kent, who led the National Counterterrorism Center, posted a letter on social media claiming that Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States. He argued that the administration was pushed into the conflict by pressure from Israel and powerful American lobbyists.
The White House rejected Kent’s claims, insisting that Trump had “compelling evidence” that Iran planned to attack the US first. Some critics also accused Kent of promoting antisemitic ideas. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said Kent’s accusations reflected “old-age antisemitic tropes,” while pro-Israel groups like J Street called the letter offensive and misleading.
In his letter, Kent criticized “high-ranking Israeli officials” and influential journalists for spreading misinformation that led Trump to take actions contrary to his “America First” policies. Kent described this as an “echo chamber” that misled the president into believing Iran was an immediate threat, which he called “a lie.”
Kent, 45, is a US special forces and CIA veteran. His wife, Shannon Kent, a navy cryptologic technician, died in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019. Kent cited his military experience and personal loss in explaining his decision to resign. He said he could not support sending Americans to die in a war that, in his view, offered no benefit to the country.
During his tenure, Kent reported to the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, overseeing the analysis of terrorist threats worldwide. After his resignation, Gabbard defended Trump’s decision to go to war, emphasizing that as commander-in-chief, the president is responsible for assessing threats. She stated that the administration acted based on the best information available regarding Iran’s intentions.
Trump reacted to Kent’s resignation by calling him a “nice guy” but “weak on security” and suggested that Kent leaving was ultimately “a good thing.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed Kent’s claim that Trump was influenced by foreign actors, calling it “both insulting and laughable.”
The political response has been divided. Mitch McConnell, former Senate Republican leader, criticized Kent, saying isolationists and anti-Semites should not hold government positions. Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Trump supporter, praised Kent, calling him an American hero and warning the public not to believe negative reports about him.
Kent’s departure marks one of the most high-profile resignations over the US-Israel-Iran conflict in the Trump administration. While there have been other resignations in Trump’s second term, the overall turnover has been lower compared to his first presidency, making Kent’s resignation particularly notable.
