Joe Kent, one of the United States’ top counterterrorism officials, has resigned over his country’s war on Iran.
On Tuesday, he published a copy of his resignation letter on social media platform X, addressing his correspondence to US President Donald Trump.
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“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 started this war because of pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
Until this week, Kent served as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, the US agency responsible for coordinating and analyzing terrorism intelligence.
The resignation marks the highest condemnation of the war effort within the Trump administration.
Here’s what to know about Kent’s resignation and its fallout:
Who is Joe Kent?
Kent, 45, is a former political candidate who has faced scrutiny over past links to far-right activists.
He is a former US Army Special Forces soldier who completed 11 combat deployments, including tours during the US-led war in Iraq.
His first wife, Shannon Kent, a US Navy cryptologic technician, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019; She left behind two children.
After leaving the military, Kent worked as a paramilitary officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) before embarking on a political career.
Twice, he campaigned as a Republican to represent southwestern Washington state in the US Congress. But both times, in 2022 and 2024, he was defeated by centrist Democrat Marie Glusenkamp Perez.
Trump endorsed Kemp in both races, even though the candidate has been plagued by controversy, paying consulting fees to members of the far-right group Proud Boys.
How long has Kent served in the Trump administration?
Kent headed the National Counterterrorism Center for less than eight months.
In July, the Senate voted to confirm him by a margin of 52 to 44, with Republican support.
Who were Kent’s closest associates?
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was Kent’s boss during the Trump administration.
She was among the first to celebrate his confirmation in July, describing him as a “patriot” and highlighting his experience as a war veteran.
“His experience serving as the tip of the spear on some of the world’s most dangerous battlefields has given him a deep, practical understanding of the persistent and evolving threat of Islamist terrorism,” he wrote.
Gabbard, Kent and Vice President JD Vance are seen as part of a faction within the Trump administration that is increasingly skeptical of US military intervention abroad.
Last week, Trump told reporters that he was “probably less enthusiastic” about striking Iran, but added that “we’re very flexible about this.”
For her part, Gabbard distanced herself from Kent’s resignation in a Tuesday post that emphasized her support for Trump’s campaign on Iran.
“Donald Trump has been overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief,” he wrote, without naming Kent.
“As our commander in chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat.”
Why did Kent resign over the Iran War?
As a military veteran, Kent is concerned about the risk of another major war in the Middle East.
In his resignation letter, Kent explained that he supported Trump’s championed foreign policy agenda during his last three presidential campaigns.
Kent pointed out that Trump has pledged to keep the US out of “never-ending wars” like the ones unfolding in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Until June 2025, you understand that the wars in the Middle East are a trap that will rob America of the precious lives of our patriots and deplete our nation’s wealth and prosperity,” Kent wrote.
But he argued that Trump had been misled about the threat posed by Iran. He blamed members of the media, as well as high-ranking Israeli officials and lobbyists, for prompting Trump to abandon his America First agenda.
“This echo chamber has been used to trick you into believing that Iran poses an imminent threat to the United States, and that if you strike now, there is a clear path to a quick victory,” Kent said.
“This is a lie and the same tactic the Israelis used to lure us into the devastating Iraq War that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.”
Kent cited the loss of his wife, Shannon, in US combat operations in Syria as an example.
Could Kent’s resignation affect Trump’s Iran war policy?
Paul Quirk, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia, said Kent’s departure is an illustration of how Trump’s actions run “against the advice of the government’s most relevant military, intelligence and foreign affairs experts.”
But Quirk added that he was skeptical of how much influence Kent alone would have on Trump’s decision.
“In general, a high-profile resignation, with an apparent contradiction of the president’s rationale for a major decision, is a huge blow to the president and his administration,” Quirk told Al Jazeera.
“It will prompt co-partisans in Congress to question the president’s decision and withdraw or qualify their support.”
But in this case, Kent’s resignation comes amid already fierce criticism of the administration’s campaign in Iran.
“Kent’s statement adds substantially to what is already a mountain of evidence that Trump’s rationale for attacking Iran is fictitious and that the war was recklessly launched,” Quirk said.
“Kent’s resignation is likely to have a dramatic effect on support for Trump and the war, but it’s a matter of ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.'”
How will voters view Kent’s departure?
While Kent’s resignation is unlikely to change US military strategy, analysts say it could have political consequences.
There are less than eight months to go before key midterm elections. A backlash to Trump’s policies could hurt his fellow Republicans in the polls.
Al Jazeera reporter Mike Hanna noted that Kent maintains a high profile in Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) base.
So Kent’s criticism of the president could be a wake-up call to widespread disillusionment among Trump’s followers.
“Kent’s criticism of the US-Israeli war on Iran is very significant because he is not the average Trump-appointed official,” Hanna said.
“He is a veteran with several tours in the Special Forces and has always been an avid supporter of Trump and the MAGA movement. A man like this accusing Trump of influencing Israel to enter the war with false information is a very reprehensible statement affecting the president’s support in parts of the right-wing community.”
What were the reactions to Kent’s resignation?
Kent’s letter divided Republicans. Some supported his resignation as a principled stand, while others condemned him as ignorant and disloyal to the president.
Kent drew a sharp response from Trump himself, who offered to resign during an Oval Office appearance on Tuesday.
“I always thought he was a good guy, but I always thought he was weak on security,” Trump told reporters. “It’s good that he’s out because he said Iran is not a threat.”
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt dismissed Kent’s claims as “both outrageous and laughable.”
Meanwhile, in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson called Kent “plainly wrong” in his assessment that Iran poses no imminent threat to the US. That was echoed by Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas.
“Kent and his family have sacrificed so much for our nation and I thank them for their service,” Cotton wrote in a statement. “But I disagree with his misjudgment.”
However, conservative media commentator Tucker Carlson praised Kent’s decision.
“Joe is the bravest person I know, and he can’t be dismissed as a nut,” Carlson said in a New York Times interview. “He’s leaving a job that gave him access to high-level relevant intelligence. The neo-cons will try to destroy him for that.”
“He understood that and did it anyway,” he said.
Why is Kent accused of being anti-Semitic?
Some critics pointed to lines in Kent’s letter blaming Israel for Trump’s decision to strike Iran.
He claimed such remarks were anti-Semitic, manipulating Trump with lies by painting Israeli leaders as a malevolent force.
Representative Don Bacon, a former US Air Force brigadier general who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, is one of the critics who has taken up that argument.
“Anti-Semitism is an evil I detest, and we certainly do not want it in our government,” Bacon wrote on social media in response to Kent’s departure.
Democrat Josh Gottheimer accused Kent of “victimizing” Israel and engaging in a “tired anti-Semitism trope.”
“Kent’s reduction of Iran to ‘Israel’s fault’ is not leadership,” he wrote. “This is a fanatical aberration.”
What does the full letter say?
After much thought, I have decided to resign from the post of Director, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, effective today.
I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran poses no imminent threat to our nation and it is clear that we started this war because of pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.
I support the values ​​and foreign policies you promoted in 2016, 2020, 2024 that you implemented in your first term. Until June 2025, you understand that the wars in the Middle East are a trap that will rob America of the precious lives of our patriots and deplete our nation’s wealth and prosperity.
In your first administration, you understood better than any modern president how to apply military power decisively without drawing us into never-ending wars. You demonstrated this by killing Qasm Solamani and defeating ISIS.
Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a disinformation campaign that completely undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to promote war with Iran. This echo chamber has been used to trick you into believing that Iran poses an imminent threat to the United States, and that if you strike now, there is a clear path to a quick victory. This is a lie and the same tactic the Israelis used to lure us into the disastrous Iraq War that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our fine men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.
As a veteran who was deployed 11 times to combat and a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation to fight and die in a war that does nothing to benefit the American people or justify the cost of American lives.
I pray that you will reflect on what we are doing in Iran and for whom. Now is the time for bold action. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slide further into decadence and chaos. You hold the cards.
It has been an honor to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation.
Joseph Kent
Director, National Counter Terrorism Centre
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