Joe Kent, the Director of the U.S. National Counter Terrorism Center, just announced Tuesday morning that he has resigned over the war against Iran.
Kent claimed that Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S., and the airstrikes should have never taken place.
When President Trump nominated Kent for the role on February 3, 2025, he wrote of Kent in a Truth Social post: “As a Soldier, Green Beret, and CIA Officer, Joe has hunted down terrorists and criminals his entire adult life. Above all, Joe knows the terrible cost of terrorism, losing his wonderful wife, Shannon, a Great American Hero, who was killed in the fight against ISIS. Joe continues to honor her legacy by staying in the fight. Joe will help us keep America safe by eradicating all terrorism, from the jihadists around the World, to the cartels in our backyard.”
Sharing a copy of his resignation letter to President Trump on X Tuesday morning, Kent wrote, “After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
“It has been an honor serving under @POTUS and @DNIGabbard and leading the professionals at NCTC. May God bless America.”
While saying he supports the values and foreign policies Trump campaigned on and implemented in his first administration, Kent added that he believes Trump has been deceived by Israel.
“Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran. This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again,” Kent wrote.
“As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives,” he continued.
“I pray that you will reflect upon what you are doing in Iran and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards,” Kent wrote to President Trump.
After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.
I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this… pic.twitter.com/prtu86DpEr
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) March 17, 2026
Kent’s resignation is being met with scorn by many.
X user SharrellAnne wrote:
Gold Star wife here. My husband didn’t die for Israel. He died because this war has been targeting Americans for decades. Long before most people ever started paying attention.
We didn’t suddenly stumble into this because of Israel. Our service members have been in the crosshairs of Iranian-backed terror networks for years. That’s the reality families like mine have lived with.
So spare me the talking point that this is “Israel’s war.” Some of us have already paid for it in American blood.
Gold Star wife here.
My husband didn’t die for Israel. He died because this war has been targeting Americans for decades. Long before most people ever started paying attention.
We didn’t suddenly stumble into this because of Israel. Our service members have been in the…
— SharrellAnne (@SharrellAnne2) March 17, 2026
Drew Pavlou mocked, “Joe Kent let two jihadist terrorist attacks take place in two weeks, then resigned as Director of National Counterterrorism to join the Tucker Carlson podcast network. What a hero.”
Joe Kent let two jihadist terrorist attacks take place in two weeks, then resigned as Director of National Counterterrorism to join the Tucker Carlson podcast network
What a hero
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) March 17, 2026
Former NYPD officer Jay Gatling mocked, “Bro literally had Nick Fuentes write his resignation letter.”
Bro literally had Nick Fuentes write his resignation letter.
— Jay Gatling (@apinionsvary) March 17, 2026
When he was first nominated for the position last year, Kent had written, “It’s an honor to serve our nation again, time to keep our nation safe & strong!”
Thank you President Trump!
It’s an honor to serve our nation again, time to keep our nation safe & strong! pic.twitter.com/yxyknrTTMN
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) February 4, 2025
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