Trump-appointed Intelligence Chief Resigns Over Iran War, Citing Lack of “Imminent Threat”
A top US intelligence official appointed by President Donald Trump resigned Tuesday, publicly breaking with the administration over its decision to go to war with Iran and intensifying scrutiny of the intelligence used to justify the conflict.
“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today,” Joe Kent wrote in a post on X.
In a resignation letter attached to the post, Kent sharply criticized the rationale for the war.
“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,” he wrote.
Kent’s departure marks the first major resignation of Trump’s second term tied directly to a policy dispute, and it comes as lawmakers and analysts question whether the administration overstated the threat posed by Iran.
The administration has maintained that military action was necessary to counter an “imminent threat.” Trump cited that justification following the initial strikes, and officials said the US acted to prevent potential Iranian attacks on American forces in the region.
However, those claims have been challenged. In briefings to Capitol Hill, Pentagon officials said Iran was not planning to strike unless it was attacked first. Kent echoed that skepticism in his resignation letter, accusing Israeli officials and media narratives of shaping a misleading picture.
“This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to victory. This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.”
Trump responded dismissively to Kent’s resignation, framing it as a matter of national security judgment.
“When somebody is working with us that says they didn’t think Iran was a threat, we don’t want those people,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “They’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people.”
He added that Kent stepping down was a “good thing” and described him as “very weak on security.”
The war has exposed fractures within Trump’s political base.
Several prominent conservative figures, including Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson, have criticized the administration’s approach to Iran and its close alignment with Israel. Influential podcast hosts such as Joe Rogan, Theo Von and Tim Dillon, all credited with helping energize Trump’s 2024 campaign, have also voiced skepticism.
Despite that backlash, polling suggests most Republican voters support the war. An NBC News survey conducted after the conflict began found that 77% of Republicans and 90% of self-identified MAGA Republicans backed the strikes on Iran.
The same poll showed 69% of Republicans sympathized more with Israelis than Palestinians. Still, favorable views of Israel among Republicans have declined, dropping to 54% from 63% in 2023.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized Kent’s broader record but agreed with his assessment of the intelligence.
“I strongly disagree with many of the positions he has espoused over the years, particularly those that risk politicizing our intelligence community. But on this point, he is right: there was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.”
Kent’s exit also draws renewed attention to his contentious record in government.
Before leading the National Counterterrorism Center, he served as a senior aide to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He rose in prominence as a vocal supporter of Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election.
His tenure was marked by clashes with other officials. Last year, FBI Director Kash Patel and Justice Department leaders rebuked Kent after he attempted to access FBI systems to investigate the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, pursuing theories of possible foreign involvement.
Officials warned that such access could jeopardize the prosecution of Tyler Robinson, the Utah man charged in the killing.
Kent also faced scrutiny during his 2022 congressional campaign over past interactions with extremist figures. He repeatedly distanced himself from Nazi sympathizer Greyson Arnold and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, saying he was unfamiliar with Fuentes and did not seek his endorsement.
At his confirmation hearing, Sen. Patty Murray described him as a “conspiracy theorist who espouses white supremacist views and is patently unqualified for this important role in just about every way imaginable.” He was ultimately confirmed by a 52-44 vote in the Senate.
Despite the controversies, Kent brought extensive national security experience to the role. He served 11 combat tours during a 20-year Army career before becoming a CIA officer.
He is also a Gold Star spouse. His first wife, Shannon, a Navy cryptologist, was killed in a 2019 suicide bombing in Syria.
The administration’s rationale for the conflict has evolved over time.
Trump has variously framed the war as a response to threats of Iranian military action, an effort to curb nuclear and missile development, and a broader push to weaken a regime that has supported attacks on Americans. He has also expressed support for Iranian protesters seeking political change, even as officials insist the war is not aimed at regime change.
Kent’s resignation now adds a high-profile internal challenge to those shifting justifications and is likely to deepen questions about how the US entered the conflict in the first place.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
