Top Trump Official Resigns Over Iran War: ‘After Much Reflection…’\
A senior intelligence official in the Trump administration abruptly resigned Tuesday, citing opposition to the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran and raising new questions about the justification for the conflict. Joe Kent, who had been serving as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his departure in a letter posted online.
“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today,” Kent wrote. He explained that he could not “in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” arguing that Tehran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States.
Kent also claimed the conflict was initiated under pressure from Israel and its allies in Washington, an allegation likely to intensify political debate over how the administration reached its decision.
“It has been an honor serving under @POTUS and @DNIGabbard and leading the professionals at NCTC,” he concluded, referring to President Donald Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
A longtime Trump supporter, Kent becomes the first high-profile official to step down during the president’s second term over a major policy disagreement, highlighting growing divisions within national security circles.
His resignation comes as lawmakers and analysts increasingly question the intelligence used to justify strikes on Iran. While Trump initially defended the operation by citing an “imminent threat” to U.S. forces, that claim has been complicated by Pentagon briefings to Congress indicating Iran was not planning an attack unless provoked.
In his letter, Kent pointed to what he described as a shift from Trump’s earlier opposition to prolonged Middle East conflicts. He referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, arguing that the president had previously favored limited, targeted uses of force.
Kent also cited the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani as an example of what he viewed as a more restrained approach.
He further warned that intelligence assessments may have been influenced by outside pressure, alleging that Israeli officials and media narratives contributed to what he called an “echo chamber” that exaggerated the immediacy of the threat.
“This was a lie,” Kent wrote, drawing parallels to the lead-up to the Iraq War, which he described as a costly mistake the United States should avoid repeating.
Kent’s departure leaves a significant gap at the National Counterterrorism Center, which coordinates intelligence on terrorist organizations, transnational criminal networks, and other global threats.
Before assuming the role, Kent served as a senior aide to Gabbard and built a long career in national security. He completed 11 combat deployments over 20 years in the U.S. Army before transitioning to the CIA. He is also a Gold Star spouse; his first wife, Shannon Kent, a Navy cryptologist, was killed in a 2019 suicide bombing in Syria.
In recent weeks, the administration’s justification for the strikes has broadened, with Trump citing multiple factors, including protecting Iranian protesters, countering Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, and responding to its long-standing support for militant groups targeting Americans.
Despite those explanations, senior officials have maintained that the objective is not regime change, even as Trump has publicly encouraged Iranian citizens to challenge their government.
Kent’s resignation is expected to intensify scrutiny in Congress and among U.S. allies as debates continue over the intelligence, strategy, and potential consequences of the conflict.