Trump reacts to outgoing counterterrorism chief who resigned over Iran war

President Donald Trump reacted sharply to the resignation of Joseph Kent, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and characterized the outgoing official as weak on national security following his decision to step down in protest of the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Kent resigned amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East, which began on February 28 after Israel launched a pre-emptive missile attack on Iran, and the United States later confirmed its involvement. The conflict then escalated into ongoing exchanges between Iranian, American and Israeli forces, raising fears of a prolonged regional war.

Responding to Kent’s exit during an interview on Fox News, Trump expressed no regrets about the development, and insisted that the resignation was ultimately beneficial.

“I always thought he was weak on security. Very weak on security. I didn’t know him well. But I thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy.

“But when I read his statement, I realized that it was a good idea for him not to interfere because he said Iran was not a threat.”

Prior to his resignation, Kent headed the NCTC, the central agency responsible for coordinating and analyzing terrorism intelligence across U.S. government agencies, placing it at the core of America’s counterterrorism operations.

In a statement announcing his departure on Tuesday, Kent said he could no longer support the war effort after deep reflection.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” he said.

He argued that the conflict was unjustified because of the immediate danger to the United States, and blamed external influences for the conflict’s escalation.

“Iran poses no threat to our country, and it is clear that we started this war because of pressure from Israel and the powerful American lobby,” he said.

Kent also referred to Trump’s previous presidency, and stated that current actions mark a change from previously measured uses of military force.

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“In your first administration, you understood better than any modern president how to apply military force decisively without embroiling us in endless war,” he said.

The former counter-terrorism chief further alleged that influential actors had shaped public perceptions in favor of the war, citing what he described as a coordinated campaign.

“Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media waged a misinformation campaign that undermined the America First platform and encouraged pro-war sentiment,” he said.

According to Kent, this creates an “echo chamber” that misleads decision makers into believing that conflict is necessary and can be won.

“This is a lie and is the same tactic used to drag us into the disastrous Iraq war,” Kent added.

Drawing on his own experience—having deployed to combat zones 11 times—he warned against repeating past mistakes that have cost American lives.

“I do not support sending the next generation to fight and die in a war that does not benefit the American people,” he said.

Kent also urged the president to reassess his country’s role in the conflict and reconsider the motivations behind his involvement.

His resignation marked the first open dissent by a senior official in the Trump administration on the Iran war, and highlighted emerging cracks in the US national security system.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers have stepped up pressure on Congress to intervene, calling for the use of constitutional force to halt American military involvement in the Middle East.