Joe Kent, the head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned March 17, saying he could no longer support the ongoing war in Iran — becoming the first senior Trump administration official to step down over the conflict.
Kent Blames War on “Misinformation”
In a resignation letter posted on X, Kent said Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States and argued the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its allies. He warned against repeating what he described as past mistakes in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump quickly pushed back, calling Kent “weak on security” and insisting Iran was a real threat. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also rejected Kent’s claims, saying Trump had strong evidence Iran was preparing to strike first.
A Rare Break Inside the Administration
Former officials said Kent’s resignation is highly unusual because he was not forced out and had been seen as a trusted figure within Trump’s national security team. Kent, a former Army Ranger and CIA officer, had been closely aligned with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
His departure has added to growing debate in Washington over the justification for the war and the administration’s handling of intelligence.
Political Fallout Grows
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said Kent was right that there was no credible evidence of an imminent Iranian threat, even though he criticized Kent’s broader record. Meanwhile, some Trump allies attacked Kent after his resignation, accusing him of disloyalty and hypocrisy.
Kent previously ran twice for Congress in Washington state as a pro-Trump Republican but lost both races. His resignation now stands as one of the clearest public breaks yet from within Trump’s inner national security circle as the Iran war enters its third week.
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