Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns in Protest of Iran War
WASHINGTON D.C. – Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned Tuesday, publicly denouncing the Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran. Kent stated he could not support a war he believes was initiated not out of genuine national security concerns, but due to external pressure.
In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Kent asserted that Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation” and attributed the conflict’s origins to “pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” He added that he “cannot in good conscience” continue to support the administration’s war effort, making him the highest-ranking official to publicly break with the campaign.
Kent, a former Army officer and CIA operative, served in the military from 1998 to 2018, completing eleven combat deployments with the 75th Ranger Regiment and Army Special Forces. He was nominated to lead the National Counterterrorism Center in February 2025 by President Trump, who touted Kent’s ability to “keep America safe by eradicating all terrorism.” The Senate confirmed his appointment in July 2025 by a vote of 52-44.
His confirmation was met with strong opposition from Democrats, who raised concerns about his associations with far-right figures and his promotion of conspiracy theories. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent declined to disavow claims that federal agents instigated the January 6th Capitol attack and refused to acknowledge the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
The resignation comes amidst growing scrutiny of the administration’s foreign policy in the Middle East. Kent’s personal history also appears to inform his stance; his wife, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019 – a conflict he described in his resignation letter as manufactured by Israel.
Kent previously ran for Congress in Washington state, but was unsuccessful in two bids.