Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent resigned from his post on Tuesday in protest of the ongoing military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In a public statement, Kent declared that he could not support the war, assessing that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and asserting the conflict was initiated due to pressure from Israel and its American lobbying efforts.
Following the announcement, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna publicly demanded that Kent testify before Congress to clarify the intelligence leading up to the military engagement.
“If even officials like Joe Kent do not believe Iran posed an imminent threat, why are we sending more Americans to die in this war?” Khanna stated in response to the resignation.
Kent, a former Green Beret with 11 combat deployments, is the highest-ranking official to depart the administration over the current conflict. He is the widower of Shannon Kent, a US Navy cryptologic technician killed in a 2019 suicide bombing in Syria.
US Counterterrorism Chief Resigns Over Iran War
The director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has announced his resignation, citing opposition to the ongoing war involving Iran.
In a statement shared on social media, Kent said he “cannot in good conscience… pic.twitter.com/YdfTh5b137
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In his extended remarks, Kent accused high-ranking Israeli officials and members of the American media of operating a misinformation campaign that deceived the administration. He directly compared these tactics to the intelligence failures that preceded the US invasion of Iraq.
The departure occurs during a prolonged and escalating military engagement characterized by targeted strikes against Iranian officials and retaliatory attacks on regional infrastructure.
Kent previously reported directly to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The Senate confirmed his appointment to the counterterrorism role in July 2025 by a narrow 52-44 vote, overcoming initial resistance from Democrats regarding his political associations.
President Donald Trump dismissed Kent’s allegations regarding the justification for the war. Trump told reporters he was glad Kent resigned, categorizing him as weak on security matters.
The president pushed back on Kent’s assessment of Iranian capabilities, maintaining that military action was justified because Iran was reportedly two weeks away from possessing a nuclear weapon.