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High US Counterterrorism Chief Joe Kent Resigns Over Trump’s Struggle in Iran

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High US Counterterrorism Chief Joe Kent Resigns Over Trump’s Struggle in Iran

3 min learnUp to date: Mar 17, 2026 10:33 PM IST

Joseph Kent, the top of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle, resigned Tuesday, turning into the primary and highest-ranking official in US President Donald Trump’s administration to step down over the continued warfare in Iran.

In his resignation letter, shared on X, Kent stated he couldn’t help the battle, arguing that Iran didn’t pose a direct risk to the USA. He additionally claimed the warfare was initiated underneath strain from Israel and its influential foyer.

Authorized consultants have identified that underneath present legal guidelines, the US would want to determine an imminent risk earlier than partaking in warfare. The White Home and the Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

The sudden resignation reportedly caught intelligence officers off guard. Kent is understood to be near Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has maintained a low profile because the battle started.

Trump’s Iran Struggle: Dissent from Inside

Profile

Joe Kent — NCTC Director

Joe Kent served as head of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle, the company tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats. He was confirmed to the publish on a 52–44 vote. Earlier than becoming a member of Trump’s administration, he ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state.

11

Navy deployments as a Inexperienced Beret

52–44

Senate affirmation vote

2

Failed Congress campaigns in Washington state

Controversies

PB

Paid a Proud Boys member for consulting

Throughout his 2022 congressional marketing campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen — a member of the far-right Proud Boys — for consulting work, and labored intently with Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson.

J6

Refused to disavow Jan. 6 conspiracy

At his Senate affirmation listening to, Kent declined to distance himself from claims that federal brokers instigated the Jan. 6 Capitol assault, or that Trump received the 2020 election.

Resignation

Kent says he “can not in good conscience” again the warfare

Kent introduced his resignation on Tuesday, citing deep considerations in regards to the justification for U.S. navy strikes in Iran. He said publicly that Iran posed no imminent risk to the USA, and immediately named Israeli strain and its American foyer as the rationale the warfare started.

“Iran posed no imminent risk to our nation, and it’s clear that we began this warfare on account of strain from Israel and its highly effective American foyer.”

— Joe Kent, resignation assertion

Speaker’s framing

Johnson: Israel was going to behave alone

Home Speaker Mike Johnson recommended the White Home believed Israel was decided to strike Iran independently, leaving Trump with a “very tough determination” — successfully cornering the U.S. into becoming a member of the strikes.

Then vs. Now

Gabbard as soon as referred to as an Iran warfare a disaster. Now she’s silent.

Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of Nationwide Intelligence underneath Trump, has not posted about Iran on social media because the strikes started final month. Her workplace declined to say whether or not she helps them.

“An all out warfare with Iran would make the wars that we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan appear to be a picnic. It is going to be way more expensive in lives, American lives, and American taxpayer {dollars} — and all in direction of engaging in what objective?”

— Tulsi Gabbard, six years in the past

What’s coming

▶

Testimony due this week

Gabbard is scheduled to testify earlier than lawmakers alongside CIA Director Ratcliffe and FBI Director Patel on the annual risk listening to — now dominated by questions in regards to the Iran warfare.

165+

Faculty strike more likely to dominate listening to

Outdated U.S. intelligence is believed to have led to a missile placing an Iranian elementary faculty, killing greater than 165 individuals. Lawmakers are anticipated to press Gabbard on this immediately.

Significance

Dissent is coming from Trump’s personal flank

Kent’s resignation isn’t from a Democrat or a centrist — it’s from a determine confirmed by a Republican Senate, with deep military-intelligence credentials and ties to the MAGA base. His public break indicators that unease in regards to the Iran warfare extends to the fitting of Trump’s coalition.

Unlikely alignment

Kent and Warner agree: no imminent risk existed

Sen. Mark Warner — the highest Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and a longtime Kent critic — validated the core of Kent’s resignation, stating there was no credible proof of an imminent Iranian risk to justify the strikes. The left and the far-right are on the identical web page.

Sources: Related Press · US Senate affirmation data

How Trump reacted

“Once I learn his assertion, I assumed it was factor he’s out, as a result of he stated Iran was not a risk… Each nation realised what a risk Iran was – the query was whether or not they wished to do one thing about it,” Trump instructed reporters.

Resignation indicators unease inside Trump’s base

Kent, confirmed final July in a 52-44 vote, headed the company answerable for analysing terrorist threats. His resignation highlights rising discomfort inside President Donald Trump’s help base and senior administration ranks over the rationale behind the warfare.

Transfer comes amid rising home safety considerations

The management change comes at a time of heightened concern over terrorism within the US, following latest assaults at a Michigan synagogue and a Virginia college.

Trump gives shifting stance

Trump has given various explanations for the strikes and rejected claims that Israel pushed the US into motion. Home Speaker Mike Johnson recommended the administration believed Israel would possibly act independently, leaving Trump with a “very tough determination.”

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No rapid response from White Home, DNI workplace

A spokesperson for Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the White Home didn’t instantly reply to queries on Kent’s resignation.

Democrats opposed Kent, however again his Iran stance

Democrats had earlier opposed Kent’s affirmation over his alleged ties to far-right figures. Nonetheless, after his resignation, Senator Mark Warner stated Kent was proper on Iran, noting there was no credible proof of an imminent risk.

(With inputs from Reuters and AP)

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