Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, urging Trump to 'reverse course'

National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent says Trump "started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby".

Joe Kent's resignation as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center marks a significant challenge to President Trump's Iran strategy. Kent, a former Army Green Beret and CIA officer, cited the lack of an imminent threat from Iran and criticized the war as being driven by pressure from Israel and its American lobby. His departure raises questions about the administration's approach to Middle East policy and the influence of foreign lobbying on U.S. decisions.

Joe Kent, a former Special Forces veteran and staunch Trump loyalist, resigned as the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center over opposition to President Trump's war on Iran. Kent criticized the administration's rationale for the conflict, stating Iran posed no imminent threat and blamed Israeli influence and U.S. media for pushing the war narrative. His resignation starkly contradicted Trump’s justification of Iranian aggression and was notable given Kent’s deep alignment with right-wing ideologies and past defense of the January 6 Capitol riots.

In a heated political dispute, Senator Lindsey Graham harshly criticized Joe Kent, the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center director, after Kent resigned in protest against President Donald Trump's war on Iran. Kent, a former Green Beret and war veteran who lost his wife in Syria, argued Iran posed no imminent threat and claimed the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its U.S. advocacy groups. His resignation letter was viewed by some as containing antisemitic tropes, which Graham strongly condemned on Fox News, defending Israel's role and likening Iran's threat to that of Nazi Germany. Graham accused Kent of supporting a false narrative and undermining national security. Trump, who had previously endorsed Kent, also turned on him, labeling him as "weak on security." Kent’s resignation highlights a sharp internal divide within the administration and GOP over U.S. foreign policy and military engagement.

In the wake of escalating tensions over the Iran war, Donald Trump targeted Joe Kent, the National Counterterrorism Center director, who resigned in protest. Kent, a former Army and CIA officer, criticized the war in his resignation letter, stating Iran posed no imminent threat and attributing the conflict to Israeli and U.S. media influence. Trump lashed back by resurfacing a 2020 tweet where Kent had advocated for aggressive action against Iran’s nuclear capabilities after the killing of Qassem Soleimani. Kent’s resignation marks a major rupture within Trump’s administration, especially given Kent’s prior alignment with Trump's nationalistic foreign policy. Trump and his allies, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt and activist Laura Loomer, attempted to discredit Kent, with some accusing him of antisemitism. Meanwhile, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson defended Kent, praising his integrity and bravery. Kent’s shift from hawkish views in 2020 to opposing the Iran war in 2026, though unclear in evolution, underscores a brewing divide within the MAGA movement over foreign policy. Kent criticized the motives behind the war and implied American troops were being knowingly endangered. His departure has intensified debates about U.S.-Middle East policy within pro-Trump circles.

Vice President JD Vance played a key role in the events surrounding the dramatic resignation of Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, who stepped down in protest over President Trump’s ongoing war in Iran. Kent, a known anti-interventionist, met with Vance and Tulsi Gabbard a day before his public resignation, during which he shared his intent and presented his resignation letter. Vance advised him to first discuss the matter with President Trump and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles—emphasizing a respectful tone—but it remains unclear if Kent followed that advice. Kent criticized the war, asserting there was no imminent Iranian threat and blaming pressure from Israel and its lobbying power. Trump responded by dismissing Kent as weak on security. Vance and Gabbard, both Iraq war veterans, have largely avoided public commentary on the Iran war despite private opposition. Meanwhile, the White House rejected Kent’s claims, and Gabbard stated that Trump's decision was informed by intelligence, though she stopped short of endorsing the conclusion herself.

Online gamblers are closely watching potential high-level departures from President Donald Trump’s administration, with bets surging on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's potential exit. This spike followed the resignation of Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, who publicly criticized Trump’s war against Iran. Kent condemned the war as unjustified and influenced by foreign lobbying. His departure triggered a sharp increase in prediction market odds for Gabbard's resignation—rising from 39% to 62% on Kalshi and from 3.8% to 38% on Polymarket—though the numbers have since declined gradually. Gabbard defended the administration’s stance in a statement, asserting that Trump acted on intelligence indicating Iran posed an imminent threat. The White House and Trump dismissed Kent’s claims, with Trump labeling him “weak on security.” Kent, a former Army Green Beret, was a controversial figure with connections to far-right groups and discredited conspiracy theories. His resignation adds to growing concerns over Cabinet instability, with other top officials like former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer also on bettors' radars. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are pushing legislation to regulate prediction market bets tied to sensitive government decisions.

Following the abrupt resignation of Joe Kent, the Trump-appointed director of the National Counterterrorism Center, MAGA-affiliated conservative podcasters such as Tim Pool and Shawn Ryan have publicly supported him, deepening schisms within the MAGA movement. Kent stepped down due to his opposition to the Trump administration's war with Iran, stating the country posed no imminent threat. His resignation was met with both praise and condemnation within MAGAworld: while supporters hailed his principled stand, others criticized him harshly, accusing him of undermining national unity and leaking classified information.