US counter-terrorism director Joe Kent resigns over differences on Iran War

Tuesday, 17 March 2026 | Web Desk

In the first significant act of defiance against President Donald Trump’s administration since the Iran war began, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Joe Kent, has resigned, citing his opposition to the conflict and alleging that the war was started under pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

Kent, a former Green Beret with 11 combat deployments and a former CIA paramilitary officer, announced his resignation effective Tuesday, stating that his conscience would not allow him to support the ongoing military operation .

‘Iran Posed No Imminent Threat’

In a resignation letter shared on social media platform X, Kent delivered a blunt assessment of the administration’s justification for war:

“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”.

Kent argued that high-ranking Israeli officials and elements of the American media engaged in a “misinformation campaign” that undermined President Trump’s “America First” platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage conflict with Iran.

Echoes of Iraq War

Drawing on his personal experience as an Iraq war veteran, Kent warned that the arguments supporting the attack on Iran mirrored the disastrous debate over going to war against Iraq in 2003.

“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,” he wrote.

Personal Loss and Moral Stand

Kent’s resignation carried profound personal weight. He described himself as a “Gold Star husband” whose wife, Shannon Kent—a Navy cryptologist—was killed in Syria in a war he believes was “manufactured by Israel”.

“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 stated.

Direct Appeal to Trump

Addressing President Trump directly in his resignation letter, Kent urged him to reconsider the path of war:

“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 expressed continued support for the “America First” foreign policy principles Trump campaigned on in 2016, 2020, and 2024, but made clear that the Iran war represented a departure from those principles.

Tucker Carlson Praises Kent

Tucker Carlson, the influential Trump ally who has emerged as the sharpest public critic of the Iran war, praised Kent’s resignation .

“Joe is the bravest man I know, and he can’t be dismissed as a nut. He’s leaving a job that gave him access to highest-level relevant intelligence. The neocons will now try to destroy him for that. He understands that and did it anyway,” Carlson said.

Background and Controversy

Kent, a two-time unsuccessful congressional candidate from Washington state, was confirmed to his post last July in a narrow 52-44 Senate vote. His confirmation was contentious, with Democrats pointing to his past associations with far-right figures, including a consultant who was a member of the Proud Boys, and his embrace of conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election and January 6 Capitol attack .

Despite this, Republicans praised his counterterrorism qualifications, with Senator Tom Cotton describing him as having “dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe”.

Unprecedented Resignation

Senior national security officials rarely step down publicly in disagreement with an ongoing military operation, making Kent’s resignation particularly significant. His departure leaves the United States without a Senate-confirmed director of the National Counterterrorism Center during a major war.

The White House has not yet issued an official response to Kent’s resignation or announced who will take over the role. However, his public defection exposes deepening fissures within the Trump administration and the broader conservative coalition over the wisdom and justification for the Iran war.