A top intelligence official is stepping down over opposition to strikes on Iran, claiming the United States was pressured into the war by “Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced he was leaving his position because President Trump was waging war against Iran at the behest of Israel. He said he “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 insisted in a letter to the president, parroting claims that Trump and his top officials have denied.
After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.
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… pic.twitter.com/prtu86DpEr
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) March 17, 2026
Former Trump officials immediately responded to Kent, a military veteran who was given an administration post after losing a congressional election, labeling him a “crazed egomaniac.”
“Joe Kent is a crazed egomaniac who was often at the center of national security leaks, while rarely (never?) producing any actual work,” said Taylor Budowich, the former deputy White House chief of staff. “He spent all of his time working to subvert the chain of command and undermine the President of the United States.”
“This isn’t some principled resignation—he just wanted to make a splash before getting canned. What a loser.”
The Trump administration has clearly laid out its decision-making process, revealing the Iranian statements during negotiations that led it to strike.
Two weeks ago, Trump’s top negotiator Steve Witkoff laid out the sheer proximity of Iran to a nuclear breakout — a reality the Iranians bragged about during the talks. Witkoff outlined what he described as Iran’s breakout capacity.
According to Witkoff, Iran currently possesses roughly 10,000 kilograms of enriched material, including approximately 460 kilograms enriched to 60% purity and another 1,000 kilograms at 20%. He argued that the 60% stockpile could be further enriched to weapons-grade levels within days.
Witkoff said Iranian negotiators “said to us directly with no shame that they controlled 460 kilograms” enriched to 60%, and they were aware that such material could theoretically be converted into enough weapons-grade uranium for as many as 11 bombs.
“They were proud of it,” he said. “They were proud that they had evaded all sorts of oversight protocols to get to a place where they could deliver 11 nuclear bombs.”
Dan Bongino, the former deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, also released an apparent response to Kent’s claims, though it did not directly name him.
“The Iranian theocracy was an imminent threat,” Bongino said. “They were committed to our destruction and anyone telling you otherwise is misleading you.”
The Iranian theocracy was an imminent threat.
They were committed to our destruction and anyone telling you otherwise is misleading you.
Between their lethal plotting against US targets, their continued efforts to shield their attempt to reconstitute their nuclear program using…— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) March 17, 2026
On social media, a Gold Star wife who says her husband was killed by an Iranian strike responded forcefully to Kent’s claims.
“Gold Star wife here. My husband didn’t die for Israel,” said Sharrell Anne, who says her husband was killed by an Iranian strike in 2007. “We didn’t suddenly stumble into this because of Israel. Our service members have been in the crosshairs of Iranian-backed terror networks for years. That’s the reality families like mine have lived with. So spare me the talking point that this is ‘Israel’s war.’ Some of us have already paid for it in American blood.”
Gold Star wife here.
My husband didn’t die for Israel. He died because this war has been targeting Americans for decades. Long before most people ever started paying attention.
We didn’t suddenly stumble into this because of Israel. Our service members have been in the…
— SharrellAnne (@SharrellAnne2) March 17, 2026
Kent’s resignation should not be surprising, as he has long been on the record in opposition to military action against Iran. In 2024, appearing with Tucker Carlson, he predicted that the Iranian people would rally around the regime and made clear that he thought striking Iran would be a disaster.
“If we start taking strikes inside of Iran itself, that is exactly what the Iranian regime wants,” Kent said. “They will benefit from that. If we start attacking Iran the way that we attacked Iraq, the way we attacked Afghanistan, then the Iranian government, the Iranian mullahs, the Ayatollah, the people will rally around them in support.”
“We can’t just let the Iranians attack and kill our people,” he declared. “But at the same time, we know if we go to war with Iran, this is going to be a disaster.”
Asked what the long-term effects of a war with Iran would be on the United States, he answered, “Immediately, it would be very bloody. I have no doubt that we could probably defeat some of their air defense and go in there and have another shock and awe campaign. But again, like we saw how the shock and awe campaign in Iraq really didn’t actually work in the long run. … if we start conducting strikes in Iran, everyone in Iran will rally around their leader. This will make them even more revolutionary … and then we will have Iranian proxies throughout the entire region that will be conducting attacks.”
Kent has been closely tied to Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, previously serving as her chief of staff. Gabbard is set to testify to the Senate tomorrow.
