High U.S. counterterrorism official resigns over Iran warfare, says Iran posed no imminent menace

Joe Kent, the director of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Centre, introduced his resignation on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), saying he “can not in good conscience” again the Trump administration’s warfare in Iran.

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Mr. Kent mentioned on social media, Iran “posed no imminent menace to our nation, and it’s clear that we began this warfare attributable to strain from Israel and its highly effective American foyer.” There was no speedy remark from the White Home.

Mr. Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his put up final July on a 52-44 vote.

As head of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Centre, he was in command of an company tasked with analysing and detecting terrorist threats.

Earlier than getting into President Donald Trump’s administration, Mr. Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state. He additionally served within the army, seeing 11 deployments as a Inexperienced Beret, adopted by work on the CIA.

Democrats strongly opposed Mr. Kent’s affirmation, pointing to his previous ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. Throughout his 2022 congressional marketing campaign, Mr. Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right army group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He additionally labored carefully 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, Mr. Kent additionally refused to distance himself from a conspiracy concept that federal brokers instigated the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, in addition to false claims that Mr. Trump, a Republican, received the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.

Democrats grilled Mr. Kent on his participation in a bunch chat on Sign that was utilized by Mr. Trump’s Nationwide Safety staff to debate delicate army plans.

Nonetheless, Republicans praised Mr. Kent’s counterterrorism {qualifications}, pointing to his army and intelligence expertise.

Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the intelligence committee, mentioned in a ground speech that Mr. Kent had “devoted his profession to preventing terrorism and retaining People protected.”