Top U. S. counterterrorism official joe kent resigned Tuesday, saying he cannot support the ongoing war against Iran and asserting the conflict began under pressure from Israel and its American lobby. The decision comes weeks after U. S. strikes on Iran that fueled a widening regional conflict and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and goods.
What Joe Kent Said in His Resignation
In a social media post, Kent wrote: “After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. ” He added: “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. ”
In his post, joe kent wrote that he could not back the military campaign, framing his exit as a matter of principle amid the ongoing conflict. A spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to questions about the resignation.
The war has become deeply unpopular with no clear endgame, as oil prices rise and fighting spreads through the Middle East. The moment underscores tensions within the national security establishment and the political strain of prosecuting an expansive conflict in an election year.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, seeking another term, defended the campaign, saying, “We haven’t underestimated Iran at all. We’re crushing them. ” The political stakes are high as control of Congress hangs in the balance and the costs of the conflict mount at home and abroad.
Before joining the administration, Democrats strongly opposed Kent’s confirmation to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. They cited his past promotion of conspiracy theories and relationships with far-right figures, including Graham Jorgensen of the Proud Boys and Joey Gibson of Patriot Prayer, as well as his participation in a Signal group chat used by Trump’s national security team to discuss sensitive military plans.
Kent’s resignation leaves a key security role in flux at a time of ongoing hostilities. The intelligence community has not publicly detailed next steps for leadership at the center or any immediate changes to counterterrorism posture.
Background: Career and Personal History
Kent is a native of Oregon and a graduate of Norwich University with a degree in Strategic Defense Analysis. He served 20 years in the U. S. Army, including 11 combat deployments across the Middle East and other high-risk areas. His career spanned the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces, and U. S. Army Special Operations Command, earning multiple honors, including six Bronze Stars. After retiring from the Army in 2018, he worked as a paramilitary officer at the CIA’s Special Activities Center.
He twice ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Washington’s 3rd District, losing both times to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, and was appointed to lead the National Counterterrorism Center in early 2025 by President Donald Trump.
Kent’s late first wife, Shannon M. Kent, was a Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician who was killed in the 2019 suicide bombing in Manbij, Syria. Born in New York in 1983, she joined the Navy in 2003, was fluent in several languages, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. She had previously overcome thyroid cancer and married Kent in 2014. Her death, alongside other Americans and local partners, has remained a defining personal loss he has publicly honored.
This is a developing story. Further updates are expected as national security agencies respond to the leadership change and the administration navigates the direction of the Iran conflict.
