Kent resigned from the position of director of counter-terrorism due to the war with Iran
17 march 2026 в 21:13
Joe Kent, the former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center under Donald Trump, drew attention in March 2026 when he resigned. His open letter to the Republican president sparked controversy within the party due to the reason for his departure: disagreement with the war in Iran.
Learn more about Kent, his military background, personal life, political career, and resignation from the Trump administration.
Kent was a soldier in the U.S. Army Special Forces and a CIA officer who became a political figure supporting Trump and right-wing views. He completed several combat deployments before starting his political career, unsuccessfully running for Congress in Washington state in 2022 and 2024.
In 2025, Kent was appointed director of the National Counterterrorism Center, where he was responsible for U.S. intelligence efforts in the fight against terrorism.
His late wife, Shannon Kent, was a senior chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy and a highly regarded cryptologist. The couple married in 2014 and had two sons.
In January 2019, Shannon was killed in a terrorist attack in Manbij, Syria, while supporting U.S. special operations against ISIS. She was 35 years old. Her death had a profound impact on Kent, who refers to himself as a «Gold Star husband», - as he often cites her loss as a significant factor influencing his views on foreign policy.
Kent mentioned his late wife in his resignation letter from the Trump administration in 2026.
Kent stepped down as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in March 2026 due to the war in Iran. In his resignation letter, he made it clear that he «could not in good conscience» support the Trump administration’s involvement in this war.
«Iran did not pose an immediate threat to our country, and it is clear that we started this war under pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby», - Kent wrote in his letter.
Adding that he supports the «values and foreign policy» that Trump advocated in the past, Kent noted: «Until June 2025, you understood that wars in the Middle East are a trap that costs America the precious lives of our patriots and drains the wealth and prosperity of our nation».
«As a veteran who has served in combat 11 times, and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war orchestrated by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation to fight a war that does not benefit the American people and does not justify the cost of American lives», - Kent continued. «I pray that you reflect on what we are doing in Iran and for whom we are doing it. The time for bold action has come. You can change course and chart a new path for our nation or allow us to slide further into decline and chaos. You hold all the cards»
Learn more about Kent, his military background, personal life, political career, and resignation from the Trump administration.
Kent was a soldier in the U.S. Army Special Forces and a CIA officer who became a political figure supporting Trump and right-wing views. He completed several combat deployments before starting his political career, unsuccessfully running for Congress in Washington state in 2022 and 2024.
In 2025, Kent was appointed director of the National Counterterrorism Center, where he was responsible for U.S. intelligence efforts in the fight against terrorism.
His late wife, Shannon Kent, was a senior chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy and a highly regarded cryptologist. The couple married in 2014 and had two sons.
In January 2019, Shannon was killed in a terrorist attack in Manbij, Syria, while supporting U.S. special operations against ISIS. She was 35 years old. Her death had a profound impact on Kent, who refers to himself as a «Gold Star husband», - as he often cites her loss as a significant factor influencing his views on foreign policy.
Kent mentioned his late wife in his resignation letter from the Trump administration in 2026.
Kent stepped down as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in March 2026 due to the war in Iran. In his resignation letter, he made it clear that he «could not in good conscience» support the Trump administration’s involvement in this war.
«Iran did not pose an immediate threat to our country, and it is clear that we started this war under pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby», - Kent wrote in his letter.
Adding that he supports the «values and foreign policy» that Trump advocated in the past, Kent noted: «Until June 2025, you understood that wars in the Middle East are a trap that costs America the precious lives of our patriots and drains the wealth and prosperity of our nation».
«As a veteran who has served in combat 11 times, and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war orchestrated by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation to fight a war that does not benefit the American people and does not justify the cost of American lives», - Kent continued. «I pray that you reflect on what we are doing in Iran and for whom we are doing it. The time for bold action has come. You can change course and chart a new path for our nation or allow us to slide further into decline and chaos. You hold all the cards»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
