Joe Kent, the director of the national counterterrorism centre has stepped down from his role, citing disagreement with President Donald Trump over the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Kent announced his resignation on Tuesday via a post on X, saying his decision followed careful consideration and was driven by his opposition to the war.
He said that Iran did not constitute an immediate danger to the united states and questioned the justification for the military action.
According to him, “after much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position 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 war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
Addressing the president directly, Kent said he still aligned with Trump’s earlier foreign policy direction, particularly his previous stance against prolonged military engagements in the Middle East.
“I support the values and the foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, 2024, which you enacted in your first term,” he said.
He further recalled that Trump had previously warned against costly and prolonged wars, adding that past decisions showed restraint in the use of military force.
Kent also alleged that the current conflict was influenced by misleading narratives, warning that the United States risked repeating past mistakes.
Citing personal experience, the former official noted that his background as a combat veteran and the loss of his wife in a previous conflict shaped his position against the war.
“As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon… I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people.
“You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards,” he added.
Kent, who assumed office in July, resigned amid escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran. The conflict, now in its third week, has seen thousands of targets reportedly struck, with Iran responding through missile attacks and disruptions to key oil routes, raising concerns over global energy supplies.
