Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), resigned Tuesday, citing his opposition to ongoing U.S. military involvement in Iran.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Kent said: “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 war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
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
Kent, a retired Green Beret and former congressional candidate, was appointed to lead the NCTC under Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. In his statement, he thanked President Donald Trump and Gabbard for the opportunity to serve and expressed appreciation for NCTC staff, concluding: “May God bless America.” Kent’s obsession with Israel appears strange to anyone who’s followed the career of Donald Trump. The president has been talking about toppling the Iranian mullahs for several decades.
Kent’s resignation comes one day before Gabbard is scheduled to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on global threats.
The departure highlights internal disagreements within the administration over the conflict with Iran, which escalated following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025 under Operation Midnight Hammer. The strikes targeted sites including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, with administration officials saying at the time that the operations significantly damaged Iran’s nuclear program.
Administration officials have maintained that U.S. involvement aligns with an “America first” approach. In briefings to congressional leaders earlier this year, including members of the Gang of Eight, officials said Israel viewed Iran as an existential threat and was prepared to act with or without U.S. support. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told reporters that Israel considered the situation urgent enough to proceed independently if necessary.
Kent’s resignation and public criticism stand in contrast to the administration’s stated rationale for the conflict, which has focused on concerns about Iran rebuilding its nuclear capabilities.
[Read More: Iran Looks To Take Out Netanyahu]
Good riddance. I must give him credit for having the guts to do the right thing for himself. However, he is dead wrong that Iran posed no imminent threat. 47 years of the world being held hostage and supporting terrorism world wide by a country that has boasted “death to America, death to Israel” are hardly the words of a country I would call innocent.
Time for New Blood then purge the system