Joseph Kent, Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday, citing opposition to the ongoing U.S. military action against Iran. In a resignation letter to President Donald Trump, Kent stated that he could not in good conscience support the war, arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and that the conflict was influenced by pressure from Israel and its American lobby.
Kent described the decision as a matter of principle, reflecting his belief in the values and foreign policies Trump had championed during his previous terms. He also criticised high-ranking Israeli officials and influential media figures for promoting what he called a misinformation campaign that misled U.S. leadership into believing Iran posed an immediate threat.
“As a veteran who deployed 11 times and a Gold Star husband who lost my wife in a war influenced by Israel, I cannot support sending Americans into another conflict that offers no benefit to our nation,” Kent wrote, urging Trump to reconsider the military strategy in Iran.
President Trump addressed Kent’s resignation during an interview with Fox News, calling the outgoing official “weak on security” and suggesting that his departure was ultimately a positive development. Trump added that while he didn’t know Kent well personally, he viewed his resignation as a sign that the administration was moving in the right direction on national security matters.
Kent’s departure underscores growing dissent within U.S. national security circles over the current military approach in the Middle East and raises questions about the administration’s policy toward Iran.
