The director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has announced his resignation. He stated that he "cannot in good conscience" support the Trump administration’s war in Iran, reported Associated Press.

Joe Kent shared on social media that 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 American lobby".

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"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 American lobby," Kent wrote in a letter addressed to the United States President Donald Trump.

"It has been an honor serving under @POTUS and @DNIGabbard and leading the professionals at NCTC. May God bless America," he said in a post on X.

Who is Joe Kent?

Kent is a former political candidate with ties to right-wing extremists. He was confirmed to his position last July with a 52-44 vote. Kent was born in Sweet Home, Ore., and ran for Congress twice in Washington state District 3, which includes Clark County. He lost both times to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. President Donald Trump appointed him to the position in early 2025.

As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Kent was in charge of an agency focused on analysing and detecting terrorist threats.

Kent, a former political candidate linked to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his position last July with a 52-44 vote. Democrats were strongly against Kent's confirmation. They highlighted his past connections to far-right figures and conspiracy theories.

Joe Kent's past revisited

During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and received support from various far-right individuals.

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During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent refused to separate himself from a conspiracy theory that suggested federal agents instigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He also backed false claims that Trump, a Republican, won the 2020 election against Democrat Joe Biden.

The resignation follows weeks after a series of US strikes on Iran that sparked an ongoing conflict in the region. This conflict has resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route for oil and other goods.