Joseph Kent, the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday in a sharp break with President Donald Trump’s handling of the war in Iran, becoming the first and most senior administration official to step down over the conflict.
In a resignation letter addressed to Trump and posted on X, Kent wrote: “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 war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby.”
Kent’s departure marks a major moment inside the Trump administration as the war in Iran continues to draw scrutiny in Washington.
Questions over legal basis for Iran war
Kent’s letter directly challenged the rationale for U.S. military action. He argued that Tehran did not pose an immediate danger to the United States, a point that carries legal weight as some experts have said an imminent threat would be required for the United States to launch a war under current law.
In the same letter, Kent urged Trump to change course, writing: “You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards.”
White House silent, intelligence officials surprised
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also did not immediately respond.
The resignation also appeared to catch intelligence officials off guard.
Kent is considered close to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has remained largely out of public view since the Iran war began. Gabbard has not issued any public statements and has only appeared publicly during the dignified transfer of American soldiers killed earlier this month during the conflict with Iran.
Kent’s resignation is likely to intensify pressure on the Trump administration as questions grow over the conduct, legal basis and political fallout of the U.S. war in Iran.
