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The Wire
Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Joe Kent
Photo: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

Joe Kent

Former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Out the door

Retired Green Beret and two-time congressional candidate who ran the government's counterterrorism center and quit in March 2026 in protest of the Iran war, the most senior official to do so.

Why they left: He resigned on March 17, 2026, writing that he could not in good conscience support the war against Iran, that Iran had posed no imminent threat and that the U.S. went to war under pressure from Israel and its American lobby. 2 Now: Since leaving he has given interviews urging opposition to the war, according to Wikipedia; no new post was reported. 1

Biography

Joe Kent was born in Oregon, enlisted in the Army at 17 and served eleven combat deployments as a Ranger and Green Beret before retiring in 2018 and joining the CIA as a paramilitary officer. 1 2 His first wife, a Navy cryptologist, was killed by a suicide bomber in Syria in 2019. 2 He ran for Congress in Washington state as a Republican in 2022 and 2024 and lost both times. 1

In 2025 he served as acting chief of staff to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and the Senate confirmed him to lead the National Counterterrorism Center by 52-44 on July 30, 2025. 1 2

He resigned on March 17, 2026, less than three weeks after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. 2 3 Trump responded that he had always thought Kent was weak on security and that he did not want officials who doubted Iran was a threat. 2 Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who disagreed with Kent on much else, said he was right that no credible evidence showed an imminent threat. 2

In the job

What happened while Joe held the post.

  1. While awaiting confirmation, he pressed the acting head of the National Intelligence Council to revisit an analysis of links between Venezuela's government and the Tren de Aragua gang, according to reports summarized by Wikipedia. 1

  2. Took office as director a day after the Senate vote. 1

  3. Told Trump, Vice President Vance and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles that he would resign over the decision to go to war with Iran, according to Wikipedia. 1

  4. Published his resignation letter on X. 2

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. Semafor reported that the FBI was investigating Kent over an alleged leak of classified information, an inquiry said to have begun months before he resigned. He has not been charged. 1

    Their side: No public response found in the sources reviewed.

  2. The New York Times reported that he obtained FBI files on the killing of Charlie Kirk, alarming FBI Director Kash Patel, according to Wikipedia's summary. 1

    Their side: No public response found in the sources reviewed.

  3. Kent's letter claimed Iran posed no imminent threat. House Speaker Mike Johnson said lawmakers had been briefed on an imminent threat from Iran's nuclear and missile programs, and Trump rejected the claim. 2

    Their side: Kent repeated his position in later interviews. 1

Career

  1. U.S. Army, 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Forces; retired as a chief warrant officer after 11 combat deployments
  2. CIA paramilitary officer
  3. Republican candidate, Washington's 3rd congressional district (lost the general election)
  4. Second run for the same seat (lost)
  5. Acting chief of staff to the Director of National Intelligence
  6. Director, National Counterterrorism Center

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Joe Kent. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Joe Kent, Nov. 13, 2026
  2. AP (via NBC4 Washington), Top counterterrorism official resigns, says Iran 'posed no imminent threat', March 17, 2026
  3. AP (via PBS NewsHour), Tulsi Gabbard resigns as Trump's national intelligence director, May 22, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.