US National Counterterrorism Center director calls out Trump for Iran conflict before resigning

The director of the US National Counterterrorism Center has announced his shock resignation, saying that he 'cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran'.

Kent, 45, said in a statement posted to X on Tuesday (17 March) that 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'.

The counterterrorism official, who is a former United States Army warrant officer and former Central Intelligence Agency paramilitary officer, has served in the role since July last year after being confirmed for the post on a 52-44 vote.

As per AP News, Kent's role saw him 'in charge of an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats'.

Announcing the surprise news, he shared his resignation letter on social media, which was addressed to US President Donald Trump and read: "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 war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."

The Iran war began on 28 February, when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on multiple sites and cities across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous other Iranian officials.

Kent penned: "I support the values and the foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, 2024, which you enacted in your first term. Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation."

He told Trump that in his first administration, he 'understood better than any modern president how to decisively apply military power without getting us drawn into never-ending wars'.

However, Kent claimed: "Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran.

"This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States and that, should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory."

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

The top official claimed: "This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women."

He urged that 'we cannot make this mistake again'.

"As a veteran who was deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives," Kent affirmed.

He ended his letter with a personal plea to Trump, which read: "I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now.

"You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip futher toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards.

"It was an honour to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has since responded to the resignation, saying there are 'many false claims in the letter'.

She wrote on X: "This is the same false claim that Democrats and some in the liberal media have been repeating over and over.

"As President Trump has clearly and explicitly stated, he had strong and compelling evidence that Iran was going to attack the United States first.

"This evidence was compiled from many sources and factors. President Trump would never make the decision to deploy military assets against a foreign adversary in a vacuum."

See the full response here:

There are many false claims in this letter but let me address one specifically: that "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation."

This is the same false claim that Democrats and some in the liberal media have been repeating over and over.

As President Trump has clearly and… https://t.co/AC8M5L8lye

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 17, 2026