Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns, Citing Israeli Influence on Iran War

Washington D.C. – Joe Kent, former Director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), resigned on March 17, 2026, citing his inability to support the ongoing war in Iran and attributing the conflict to pressure from Israel. His resignation marks the first departure of a top Trump administration official over the war.

Kent’s Accusations and Resignation

In a resignation letter to President Donald Trump, Kent stated, “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” He announced his decision in a post on X, stating it followed “much reflection.”

Kent, a decorated former Army Ranger and CIA paramilitary officer, previously served as a top aide to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He was nominated by President Trump for the NCTC director position on February 3, 2025.

Trump’s Response

President Trump responded to Kent’s resignation with criticism, stating, “I always thought he was a nice guy. But I always thought he was weak on security, exceptionally weak on security.” He added, “I didn’t know him well, but I thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy. But when I read a statement, I realized that it’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat.”

Background and Previous Advocacy

Kent had been a staunch supporter of President Trump, remaining so through the 2020 election defeat, the January 6th riots, and several unsuccessful congressional bids. However, the war in Iran and the alliance between Trump and Israel against the Iranian government proved to be a breaking point.

Further Claims Regarding Israeli Influence

In a subsequent interview, Kent elaborated on his claims, stating that “The Israelis drove the decision to take this action, which we knew would set off a series of events, meaning the Iranians would retaliate.” He also asserted that Israel felt “emboldened” to take action, anticipating U.S. Reaction. Kent further claimed that Iran had a fatwa in place since 2004 prohibiting the development of nuclear weapons and that there was no intelligence indicating this edict had been disobeyed.

Office of the Director of National Intelligence Response

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the NCTC, has not yet issued a public response to requests for comment regarding Kent’s resignation.