US Counterterrorism Leader Joe Kent Resigns, Exposes Lies in US-Iran War
Political turmoil has engulfed the White House following the sudden resignation of Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) appointed by President Donald Trump, on Tuesday (17 March 2026). Kent stepped down as a strong protest against the United States’ involvement in the war with Iran.
In a resignation letter posted on his personal X account, Kent openly refuted the government’s reasons for launching military strikes. He described the narrative of an urgent threat from Iran as a lie.
Joe Kent, long known as a staunch supporter of the MAGA movement, issued a statement that shocked the international public. He accused the war policy of stemming from pressure by foreign entities.
“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote. “Iran poses no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we initiated this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
Kent also compared the current situation to the tactics used to draw the US into the catastrophic Iraq War. According to him, Trump has been misled by an echo chamber of media and officials providing false information about the Iranian threat.
In response, President Donald Trump issued scathing comments. From the Oval Office, Trump described Kent as weak on national security issues.
“When someone works with us and says Iran is not a threat, we don’t want people like that. They are not smart people,” Trump stated firmly.
Prior to the public announcement, Kent reportedly met with Vice President JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard on Monday evening. Although asked to speak with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Kent chose to publicise his resignation.
Kent’s resignation reflects deep divisions within Trump’s internal supporters regarding foreign policy. Media figures such as Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly have begun voicing scepticism, although polls show 90% of MAGA supporters still back Trump on the strikes against Iran.
Joe Kent is no stranger to the world of military and intelligence. He is an Army veteran who completed 11 combat deployments over a 20-year career. He is also a Gold Star spouse after his wife, Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019.
However, Kent’s political career has often been marred by allegations of ties to far-right extremist groups. Senator Mitch McConnell and several other Republican members have condemned the content of Kent’s letter, deeming it to contain antisemitic sentiments and unfounded conspiracy theories.
As of this report, the White House has stated that Kent’s resignation will not alter the United States’ military strategy in the Middle East region.