On March 17, 2026, Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), resigned in protest of the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, explicitly accusing Israel of pressuring President Donald Trump into the conflict.

 

On March 17, 2026, Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), resigned in protest of the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, explicitly accusing Israel of pressuring President Donald Trump into the conflict. In a resignation letter posted on X, Kent asserted that Iran "posed no imminent threat" to the United States and that the administration was drawn into the war by a "misinformation campaign" led by high-ranking Israeli officials and their American lobbyists.

 

Key details of Kent's accusations and the administration's response include:

Pressure from Israel: Kent claimed that Israeli officials and influential media figures created an "echo chamber" to deceive Trump into believing a strike on Iran would lead to a "swift victory".

Comparison to Iraq: He compared the current situation to the 2003 Iraq War, alleging that the same "tactics" were used to draw the U.S. into a "disastrous" conflict.

America First Betrayal: Kent, an Iraq War veteran and Gold Star husband, argued the war serves no benefit to the American people and contradicts Trump's "America First" platform.

Trump's Reaction: President Trump dismissed Kent's claims, describing him as "weak on security" and stating that his departure was "a good thing" because he failed to recognize Iran as a real threat.

Internal Rifts: The resignation highlights significant divisions within the Trump administration and its MAGA base regarding foreign military intervention.

Allegations of Antisemitism: Critics, including Rep. Don Bacon and officials from groups like J Street, condemned Kent’s letter as promoting "antisemitic tropes" regarding Israeli influence.