Joe Kent resigned as director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, stepping down in protest of the U.S. war against Iran. He announced his departure in a post on X, formerly Twitter. His resignation has prompted an FBI investigation into allegations he leaked classified information, according to multiple media reports, making him the highest-ranking Trump official to resign because of the conflict, based on research from three sources.
Kent is a former U.S. Army special forces veteran and a twice-failed Washington congressional candidate aligned with the MAGA right. He has defended the January 6 Capitol attack and election fraud claims, as reported by two major media outlets, and served multiple combat deployments and lost his wife in war, according to research from three sources.
Kent was weak on security.
Regional military actions have intensified, with Iran conducting new air attacks on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports. The United Arab Emirates shot down 10 missiles and 45 drones from Iran and briefly closed its airspace due to incoming missile and drone threats, as detailed in nine major media sources. Simultaneously, Israel launched an extensive attack wave against Tehran, the Israeli military said, with its defense minister reporting the killings of Ali Larijani, head of Iran's security council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij force. A drone and missile attack also occurred on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, with black smoke seen, a security source reported.
In his resignation announcement, Kent leveraged his political connections to former President Donald Trump, who endorsed his congressional run in 2022, calling him a 'very special person' with a 'tremendous future,' according to nine major media sources. Kent's departure highlights a significant rift, as he is the highest-ranking Trump official to resign because of the war, based on research from three sources. His resignation is one of the most significant public splits over Israel among Trump's supporters, research from three sources indicates.
I didn't know him well.
The FBI is investigating Kent for allegedly leaking classified information, multiple media reports confirm. The investigation's details remain under wraps.
Kent has also been embroiled in controversy over the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation, claiming his probe was blocked by the FBI. A law enforcement source said Kent made unsupported claims about foreign actors in Kirk's assassination during FBI meetings.
A very special person with a tremendous future.
In his resignation, Kent alleged that Israel used an 'echo chamber' to influence Trump into war with Iran, similar to tactics used for the Iraq war.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Kent's claim about Iran was a lie and that Trump determines threats.
Kent's claim about Iran was a lie. Trump determines threats.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio all but admitted that the U.S. had been dragged into the war by its ally, and explained on March 2 that the U.S. knew of an impending Israeli action that would precipitate an attack on American forces.
The Middle East conflict has affected Trump's diplomatic schedule, with him postponing a planned meeting with Xi Jinping due to the war, according to nine major media sources.
Kent's resignation has significant implications for Trump administration unity, as he is the highest-ranking official to resign because of the war and his departure represents one of the most significant public splits over Israel among Trump's supporters, based on research from three sources.
Several unknowns persist in the aftermath of Kent's resignation. The specifics of the FBI investigation, including what classified information he is accused of leaking and the evidence against him, have not been disclosed. Additionally, the details of the Charlie Kirk investigation and the embassy attack in Baghdad remain unclear. Trump's opinion of Kent also lacks specific details.