The Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has resigned from his position, citing his opposition to President Donald Trump’s war in Iran.
Kent announced his decision on Tuesday, saying he could no longer support the administration’s stance on the conflict.
“I cannot in good conscience back this war,” he said.
In a statement shared on social media, Kent argued that the basis for the conflict was unjustified.
“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we entered this war due to pressure from Israel and its influential lobby in the United States,” he stated.
Kent was confirmed to the role in July after the Senate approved his nomination with a 52–44 vote. He headed the National Counterterrorism Center, the agency responsible for analysing and identifying terrorist threats to the United States.
His resignation represents a major development within the administration’s national security leadership at a time of rising tensions over US policy toward Iran.
Before his appointment, Kent unsuccessfully contested two congressional elections in Washington State. He is also a former Green Beret who carried out 11 deployments and later worked in intelligence roles at the Central Intelligence Agency.
His confirmation had earlier generated strong debate in the Senate. While Republican lawmakers supported his nomination, citing his experience in national security, Democrats expressed concerns over some of his past affiliations and public statements.
During his confirmation hearing, the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tom Cotton, defended Kent, saying he had “dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”
Kent’s resignation comes as discussions continue in Washington over the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and its wider counterterrorism strategy.
