17. March 2026

Trump's Director of National Counterterrorism Center Steps Down Citing Conscience Over War in Iran

WASHINGTON -- Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned Tuesday, citing concerns over the justification for U.S. strikes in Iran and saying he “cannot in good conscience” support the Trump administration’s war.

In a social media statement, Kent said Iran posed no imminent threat and claimed the conflict was driven by pressure from Israel and its U.S. lobby—an assertion President Donald Trump has denied.

Kent, a former political candidate with ties to right-wing extremists, was confirmed last July in a 52–44 vote. He led the agency responsible for analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.

His resignation highlights unease within Trump’s base and suggests doubts about the war’s justification have reached at least one senior administration official.