Kent stated in his resignation letter that Iran did not pose any immediate threat to the United States and that pressure from Israel influenced Trump’s decision to initiate the war.
Joseph Kent, the head of the United States‘ National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his post over the US-Israel war against Iran.
In his resignation, Kent stated that Iran poses no “imminent threat” to the US and that pressure from Israel compelled Trump to initiate the war.
Kent wrote that he could not, “in good conscience,” support the Trump administration’s war in Iran. He is the first senior official within the Trump administration to resign specifically due to the war in Iran.
“Iran Poses No Threat to Our Country”
Kent wrote, “I cannot, in good conscience, support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran poses no threat to our country, and it is clear that we initiated this war under pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
In his letter, he asserted that Trump was fully aware—as of June 2025—that wars in the Middle East had resulted only in the loss of American lives and the depletion of the nation’s wealth.
He stated that senior Israeli officials and “influential members” of the US media deliberately advocated for war with Iran through a “disinformation campaign” designed to promote the conflict.
‘Trump Misled by Israeli Officials and US Media’
Kent stated that an “echo chamber” was utilized to convince the 79-year-old president that Iran posed an immediate threat to the US, that he should attack the Islamic Republic, and that victory could be swift and decisive.
Kent also drew parallels between the current conflict and the 2003 Iraq War, alleging a pattern of deception.
Kent asserted that Israeli officials had conducted a “disinformation campaign” to drag the US into the “dangerous Iraq War” and are now employing the same tactics to push for a war with Iran.
He appealed to Trump to reconsider his decision to support the war, stating that he could either forge a new path forward for the US or plunge the country into even greater chaos.
He wrote, “I pray that you reflect on what we are doing in Iran and for whose sake we are doing it. Now is the time to take bold steps. You can change course and chart a new path for our country, or you can allow us to slide further into decline and disorder. The cards are in your hands.”
“A War Made by Israel”
As an 11-time deployed veteran and a Gold Star husband, Kent emphasized that he could not support sending a new generation to die in what he termed “a war made by Israel”—a conflict from which “the American people stand to gain nothing.”
According to officials from these nations, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 1,300 people in Iran, over 880 in Lebanon, and 12 in Israel. The US military reports that 13 US service members have been killed and approximately 200 have been injured.
About Joseph Kent
As the head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Kent was in charge of an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.
Kent—a former political candidate with ties to right-wing extremists—was confirmed to his post last July by a vote of 52-44.
Democrats strongly opposed Kent’s confirmation, pointing to his past associations with far-right figures and conspiracy theories.
During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen—a member of the right-wing militant group the Proud Boys—for consulting work.
He also collaborated with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and garnered support from numerous far-right figures.
During his confirmation hearing in the Senate, Kent refused to distance himself from the conspiracy theory that federal agents orchestrated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, as well as the false claim that Republican Donald Trump won the 2020 election against Democrat Joe Biden.