In his first interview since resigning as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent spoke with Tucker Carlson on March 18, 2026, to detail his opposition to the ongoing war with Iran.

 

Joe Kent Reveals All in First Interview Since Resigning as Trump’s Counterterrorism Director

In his first interview since resigning as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent spoke with Tucker Carlson on March 18, 2026, to detail his opposition to the ongoing war with Iran.

Kent’s "tell-all" appearance followed his sudden resignation on March 16, 2026, making him the first high-profile official to step down from the second Trump administration over a major policy disagreement.

 

Key Revelations from the Interview

Lack of Imminent Threat: Kent stated there was "no intelligence" suggesting an imminent Iranian attack (such as a "9/11" or "Pearl Harbor" style strike) before the U.S. initiated hostilities on February 28.

Israeli Influence: He claimed Israel "drove the decision" to strike and conducted a "misinformation campaign" to pressure the U.S. into the conflict.

Stifled Dissent: Kent alleged that he and other senior officials were "not allowed" to share their doubts with President Trump, claiming a small circle of advisers "squashed" dissenting data before it reached the Oval Office.

Personal Breaking Point: He cited the rising American death toll as his "real breaking point" and stated he could not "in good conscience" support a war he believed violated Trump’s "America First" principles.

 

Administration and Political Response

President Trump: Dismissed Kent as a "nice guy" who was "weak on security," stating it was "a good thing that he’s out" because he failed to recognize Iran as a "tremendous threat".

White House: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Kent’s claims "insulting and laughable," asserting he had not been involved in high-level discussions for some time.

FBI Investigation: Reports emerged shortly after his resignation that the FBI is investigating Kent for allegedly leaking classified information.

Criticism: Lawmakers and monitoring groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned Kent’s resignation letter, accusing him of using "antisemitic tropes" regarding the "Israeli lobby".