Head of US Counterterrorism Center Resigns, Citing Israeli Pressure on Iran War

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) in the United States, resigned on Tuesday in protest against the ongoing war in Iran. In a resignation letter posted to X, Kent stated he could not “in good conscience support” the conflict, asserting that Iran did not pose an “imminent threat” to the U.S. He alleges the war began due to “pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”

Kent’s Allegations and Background

Kent’s letter details his support for former President Trump’s foreign policies during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 election campaigns. He acknowledged Trump’s initial stance against prolonged Middle Eastern conflicts, stating the president believed such wars “cost America the lives of our patriots and weakened the nation’s prosperity.” However, Kent claims that after June 2025, “senior Israeli officials and influential American media figures” initiated a “disinformation campaign” to undermine Trump’s “America First” agenda.

According to Kent, this campaign created an “echo chamber” that led Trump to believe Iran was an imminent threat, falsely promising a swift victory through immediate military action. “That was a lie,” Kent wrote.

A Former Green Beret and Personal Loss

Kent, who reported to the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, is a retired Army Green Beret with extensive combat experience, having completed eleven combat missions. The Recent York Times notes Kent’s background as a candidate for the US House of Representatives in 2021, where he presented himself as a Trump supporter.

His resignation carries a personal weight, as his wife, Shannon Kent, a Navy cryptologic technician, was killed in a suicide bombing in Manbij, Syria, in 2019. Kent stated that, having lost his wife in a “war started by Israel,” he could not support sending another generation into a similar conflict.

Trump’s Response and Kent’s Position

President Trump responded to Kent’s resignation by calling him “very weak on security” and stating it was “a good thing that he’s out,” according to PBS NewsHour.

Kent is the first senior administration official to resign over the war in Iran, as reported by The Guardian. His departure signals potential internal dissent within Trump’s coalition regarding the ongoing conflict, particularly as the war continues.

Significance of the Resignation

While described by some as an “imperfect messenger” with a “checkered past,” Kent’s position as a high-ranking intelligence official appointed by Trump lends weight to his concerns. CNN highlights that Kent’s claim of Israeli pressure isn’t entirely unfounded.

His resignation may represent a segment of Trump’s base that is increasingly questioning the war in Iran, especially as its duration extends and its costs mount.