Trump's Counterterrorism Chief Resigns, Alleges False Israeli Intelligence Behind US Iran Strikes
WASHINGTON – A senior counterterrorism official in President Donald Trump’s administration has resigned over military operations against Iran, alleging that US strikes against the country were initiated due to false information provided by Israel and powerful pro-Israel lobbying groups in America.
In a statement posted to his X account, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent stated that Iran “posed no imminent threat” to the United States. He claimed that the government “started this war because of pressure from Israel and lobbies in America.”
In a letter addressed to Trump, Kent alleged that “senior Israeli officials” and influential American journalists had disseminated “false information” that caused the president to abandon his “America First” platform. “This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran poses a threat to the United States,” the letter continued.
“This is a lie and it is the same tactic that Israel used to drag us into the devastating Iraq War that cost the lives of thousands of our finest men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.”
According to the BBC, Kent, 45, is a former US special forces soldier and CIA veteran. His wife, naval cryptologist Shannon Kent, was killed in a bombing in Syria in 2019.
The White House has denied the allegations in the letter, stating that Trump possesses “strong evidence” that Iran would attack the US first. This contradicts reports that the US and Israel launched strikes whilst Iran was engaged in negotiations with the US and reportedly willing to ease its conditions.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said he considered Kent a “good person” but “weak on security.” Trump stated that Kent’s resignation letter made him realise “it is good that he resigned” and that he disagreed with Kent’s assessment of the Iran threat.
With his departure, Kent becomes the most prominent Trump administration figure to openly criticise US-Israel operations in Iran.
Kent, a long-standing Trump supporter who unsuccessfully ran for Congress twice, was nominated by the president early in his tenure. He received limited approval for the position, with numerous Democratic members criticising his associations with extremist groups including members of the Proud Boys.
During his confirmation hearing, Kent also refused to withdraw claims that federal agents instigated the 6 January Capitol riot or that Trump won the 2020 presidential election.
At the National Counterterrorism Center, he reported to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and oversaw analysis and detection of potential terrorist threats worldwide.
Previously, Kent had been deployed overseas eleven times with the US military, including with US Army special forces in Iraq. He later became a paramilitary officer at the CIA before leaving government service following his wife’s death.