Trump’s Counterterrorism Chief Quits, Alleges US Entered War Under Israel Pressure

Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from the administration of Donald Trump, citing his opposition to the ongoing US war with Iran and questioning the rationale behind the conflict.

Announcing his decision, Kent said he “cannot in good conscience” support the military campaign. In a post on social media, he argued that Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States and claimed the war was driven by external pressure.

“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,” he wrote.

His resignation comes at a time of escalating tensions in the Middle East, with continued military exchanges between the US and Iran. It marks one of the most high-profile exits from the administration since the conflict intensified.

As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Kent oversaw a key intelligence body responsible for analysing terrorist threats and coordinating efforts across US agencies, including the Pentagon and the broader intelligence community.

In a resignation letter addressed to Trump, Kent said he continued to support the broader values and foreign policy vision the president had campaigned on in previous elections, but disagreed with the decision to launch military action against Iran.

“I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for,” he wrote, urging the president to reconsider the course of the conflict.

Trump’s remarks on the conflict

Kent’s comments come days after Trump pushed back against claims that the US acted under pressure from Israel. Speaking at the Oval Office, he suggested that Washington may have acted first to pre-empt Israeli action.

“They were going to attack if we didn’t do it,” Trump said, referring to Iran. He added that the strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and described them as pre-emptive.

Who is Joe Kent?

Kent was confirmed as NCTC director last year following a closely contested vote in the US Senate. Prior to that, he ran twice for Congress from Washington state.

A former Green Beret, Kent completed multiple deployments during his military service before joining the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked on national security and intelligence operations.

His resignation is expected to intensify debate in Washington over the justification for the war with Iran and the broader direction of US foreign policy in the region, as questions continue to grow over the conflict’s strategic objectives and consequences.