Joe Kent resigns as Trump’s counterterrorism chief over Iran war
The Chronify
Joe Kent, the director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned in protest over President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, becoming the first senior official in the administration to step down over the conflict. In his resignation letter, Kent said he could not support the war and argued that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States. Reuters reported that the White House rejected Kent’s claim and said Trump had acted on what it described as strong evidence of an imminent danger.
Kent posted his resignation letter on social media on Tuesday. In the letter, he said the United States had entered the war because of pressure from Israel and what he called its powerful American lobby. The Guardian and Al Jazeera both reported that Kent accused Israeli officials and parts of the American media of pushing Trump away from his earlier anti interventionist foreign policy and toward a wider war in the Middle East.
The resignation is a major political rupture because Kent had been one of the most visible America First officials inside Trump’s national security team. Reuters said Kent had long opposed US military interventions abroad and described his departure as a surprise to at least one US official. Reuters also reported that Kent is close to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, whose office oversees the counterterrorism center.
Kent, 45, is a former US Army Special Forces soldier who completed 11 combat deployments, including in Iraq, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet also reported that his first wife, Shannon Kent, a US Navy cryptologic technician, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019. After leaving the military, Kent worked as a CIA paramilitary officer before entering politics.
Before joining the Trump administration, Kent ran twice as a Republican for Congress in southwestern Washington state and lost both times to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Al Jazeera reported. His campaigns drew scrutiny over ties to far right figures. The Guardian said Kent’s political profile was marred by associations with white nationalists and other far right activists, while Al Jazeera reported that he paid a member of the Proud Boys a consulting fee during one of his campaigns.
Kent had served as head of the National Counterterrorism Center for less than eight months. Al Jazeera reported that the Senate confirmed him in July by a 52 to 44 vote, with only Republicans supporting his nomination. Reuters also noted that Democrats had sharply criticized him over far right associations and past controversies.
Reaction to his resignation was swift and sharply divided. Trump said Kent was weak on security and added that it was a good thing he was out because he did not believe Iran was a threat, according to the Guardian. Reuters reported that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Kent’s letter false, while Gabbard publicly defended Trump’s decision by saying the president concluded Iran posed an imminent threat.
Kent’s exit has also exposed splits on the American right over the war. Al Jazeera reported that some Republicans backed the administration while others praised Kent for taking a principled stand. The outlet also said conservative commentator Tucker Carlson publicly supported Kent, describing him as credible and courageous for leaving a senior job over the issue.
The resignation is a major political rupture because Kent had been one of the most visible America First officials inside Trump’s national security team. Reuters said Kent had long opposed US military interventions abroad and described his departure as a surprise to at least one US official. Reuters also reported that Kent is close to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, whose office oversees the counterterrorism center.
Kent, 45, is a former US Army Special Forces soldier who completed 11 combat deployments, including in Iraq, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet also reported that his first wife, Shannon Kent, a US Navy cryptologic technician, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019. After leaving the military, Kent worked as a CIA paramilitary officer before entering politics.
Before joining the Trump administration, Kent ran twice as a Republican for Congress in southwestern Washington state and lost both times to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Al Jazeera reported. His campaigns drew scrutiny over ties to far right figures. The Guardian said Kent’s political profile was marred by associations with white nationalists and other far right activists, while Al Jazeera reported that he paid a member of the Proud Boys a consulting fee during one of his campaigns.
Kent had served as head of the National Counterterrorism Center for less than eight months. Al Jazeera reported that the Senate confirmed him in July by a 52 to 44 vote, with only Republicans supporting his nomination. Reuters also noted that Democrats had sharply criticized him over far right associations and past controversies.
Reaction to his resignation was swift and sharply divided. Trump said Kent was weak on security and added that it was a good thing he was out because he did not believe Iran was a threat, according to the Guardian. Reuters reported that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Kent’s letter false, while Gabbard publicly defended Trump’s decision by saying the president concluded Iran posed an imminent threat.
Kent’s exit has also exposed splits on the American right over the war. Al Jazeera reported that some Republicans backed the administration while others praised Kent for taking a principled stand. The outlet also said conservative commentator Tucker Carlson publicly supported Kent, describing him as credible and courageous for leaving a senior job over the issue.
The broader political impact remains uncertain, but the resignation adds to pressure on Trump as criticism grows over the justification for the Iran war. Reuters reported that Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Kent was right on one key point, that there was no credible evidence of an imminent Iranian threat that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice.
Related News
📚 Categories
You may like
