Joseph Kent, the top of the USA’ Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle, has resigned from his place over the US-Israel conflict towards Iran. In his resignation letter, Kent stated that Iran posed no “imminent menace” to the US and that Israeli strain pushed Trump to begin the conflict.
Kent wrote that he “can’t in good conscience” again the Trump administration’s conflict in Iran. He’s the primary main Trump administration official who resigned due to the conflict in Iran.
“Iran Posed No Imminent Menace To Our Nation”
“I can’t in good conscience help the continuing conflict in Iran. Iran posed no imminent menace to our nation, and it’s clear that we began this conflict as a result of strain from Israel and its highly effective American foyer,” Kent wrote.
After a lot reflection, I’ve determined to resign from my place as Director of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle, efficient right this moment.
I can’t in good conscience help the continuing conflict in Iran. Iran posed no imminent menace to our nation, and it’s clear that we began this… pic.twitter.com/prtu86DpEr
— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) March 17, 2026
In his letter, he claimed that Trump knew till June 2025 that the wars within the Center East solely robbed the US of lives and exhausted the nation’s wealth. He stated that senior Israeli officers and “influential members” of the US media, by way of a “misinformation marketing campaign”, promoted pro-war rhetoric in a deliberate bid to encourage conflict with Iran.
‘Trump Was Misled By Israeli Officers And US Media’
Kent asserted that an “echo chamber” was used to mislead the 79-year-old president into believing that Iran constituted a direct menace to the US, that he ought to assault the Islamic Republic and that victory might be fast and clear.
Kent additionally drew parallels between the present battle and the 2003 Iraq Struggle, alleging a sample of deception. Kent acknowledged that Israeli officers used a “misinformation marketing campaign” to attract the US into the “disastrous Iraq conflict” and have been now utilizing the identical techniques to push for conflict with Iran.
He urged Trump to rethink his resolution to help the conflict and stated that he can both pave a brand new method ahead for the US or push the nation additional into chaos.
“I pray that you’ll replicate upon what we’re doing in Iran, and who we’re doing it for. The time for daring motion is now. You’ll be able to reverse course and chart a brand new path for our nation, or you may enable us to slide additional towards decline and chaos. You maintain the playing cards,” he wrote.
“Struggle Manufactured By Israel”
As a fight veteran with 11 deployments and a Gold Star husband, Kent emphasised that he couldn’t help sending a brand new era to die in what he termed a “conflict manufactured by Israel” that gives “no profit to the American folks”.
The conflict has killed at the very least 1,300 folks in Iran, greater than 880 in Lebanon and 12 in Israel, in keeping with officers in these international locations. The US army says 13 US service members have been killed and about 200 wounded.
Joseph Kent and US President Donald Trump
About Joseph Kent
As head of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle, Kent was answerable for an company tasked with analysing and detecting terrorist threats.
Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his publish final July on a 52-44 vote.
Democrats strongly opposed Kent’s affirmation, pointing to his previous ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. Throughout his 2022 congressional marketing campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right army group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He additionally labored intently with Joey Gibson, the founding father of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted help from quite a lot of far-right figures.
Throughout his Senate affirmation listening to, Kent additionally refused to distance himself from a conspiracy concept that federal brokers instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, in addition to false claims that Trump, a Republican, received the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.
(With inputs from businesses)
