Mar 17, 2026, 3:06 p.mMar 17, 2026, 3:06 p.m
Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his post. The 45-year-old justified his decision by saying that he does not support the ongoing Iran war, which was caused by President Donald Trump.
Joe Kent resigns.Image: keystone
“I cannot in good conscience support this war,” writes Kent on X. “Iran did not pose an immediate threat to our country.” In his eyes, it was “obvious” that the USA started the war under pressure from Israel and its “influential lobby in the United States”.
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
Nevertheless, he thanks Donald Trump and DNI boss Tulsi Gabbard for his time in office. «It was an honor to serve under them. “God save America,” Kent concludes his message.
The 45-year-old was appointed head of the National Counterterrorism Center by Trump in February 2025. He previously made a name for himself as an opponent of US anti-terror operations. Kent’s first wife, Shannon Smith, died in a suicide bombing while deployed in the Syrian city of Manbij in 2019. He then became involved, among other things, with the organization “Veterans for Trump”.
Kent’s resignation is emblematic of the current situation among US Republicans. They are divided by Trump’s actions in the Middle East: While some support the president’s war, more and more critical voices are also being raised within their own camp. (dab)