Joe Kent resigns: MAGA furious over US counterterrorism chief’s ‘shameful’ exit during Iran war, ‘wish you the best of luck’

“I cannot in good conscience support the war that is going on Iran“It was not until June 2025 that you understood that war in the Middle East was a trap that claimed the lives of American patriots and drained our nation’s wealth and prosperity,” Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in a resignation letter shared Tuesday morning.

Also read: Who is Shannon M. Kent? It’s all about Joe Kent’s first wife, who died in 2019 bombing in Manbij, Syria

Kent himself and trump card During an unsuccessful congressional campaign in 2022, he claimed the 2020 election was fraudulent and called the Jan. 6 rioters “political prisoners.” He ran for office again in 2024, but was defeated by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), who won a second term.

Kent said in the letter that Iran “does not pose an imminent threat to the United States.” He claimed that the U.S. media, senior Israeli officials and powerful Israeli lobbyists “deployed a disinformation campaign” and “spread pro-war sentiment to encourage war with Iran.”

“This echo chamber is being used to deceive you into believing that Iran poses an imminent threat to the United States and that if you attack now, there is a clear path to quick victory,” Kent said. “This is a lie, the same tactic the Israelis used to drag us into the disastrous war in Iraq that cost our country the lives of thousands of its best men and women.”

There is no legal evidence to substantiate the claim that Israel convinced U.S. intelligence officials before the 2003 U.S. invasion that Iraq was pursuing a weapons of mass destruction program.

Also read: Joe Kent and his family: The US counterterrorism director resigned due to the war in Iran, relying entirely on his wife Heather and children

“Great job,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a moderate Republican hawk, shot back at Kent in his own social media message.

“Joe Kent is a deranged egomaniac who is often at the center of national security leaks but rarely (never?) does any real work,” political consultant and former White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich wrote on X .

“He spent all his time upending the chain of command and weakening the position of the President of the United States. This was not some principled resignation – he just wanted to cause a stir before he was fired. What a loser,” he added.

Calling Kent’s resignation letter “shameful,” one

“Well. President Trump sometimes makes mistakes when choosing appointees, as is the case here. Thank you for resigning. Counterterrorism. This position requires someone who is committed to America’s long-term best interests and not give in to pressure from the anti-Semitic lobby,” another responded.

Another netizen wrote: “Joe Kent lost his wife while fighting ISIS in Syria. Joe Kent has been fighting for 20 years himself. So he knows the destruction that war brings. Trump is the one who robs Americans of their money. Choose your heroes wisely. Thank you, Kent is a true American hero.”

As a Democratic representative, Gabbard has publicly opposed U.S. military intervention in the Middle East. She has been excluded from military strategy on Iran and has remained largely silent on the ongoing conflict since the Trump administration launched attacks last summer targeting three Iranian nuclear sites.