{"id":2580811,"date":"2026-03-17T11:01:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-counterterrorism-director-resigns-over-iran-war\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T11:02:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:02:34","slug":"trumps-counterterrorism-director-resigns-over-iran-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-counterterrorism-director-resigns-over-iran-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump&#8217;s counterterrorism director resigns over Iran war"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrumps-counterterrorism-director-resigns-over-iran-war%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2580811&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Joe Kent, who led President Donald Trump\u2019s National counterterrorism Center, resigned this week, becoming the first high-ranking Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/miles-anonymous-taylor-accidentally-exposes-the-fraudulence-of-the-mainstream-media\/\" title=\"Miles ...Anonymous... Taylor Accidentally Exposes the Fraudulence of the Mainstream Media\">administration official<\/a> to leave over the Iran war. A veteran with 11 combat tours who joined the CIA in 2018 and took over the counterterrorism center last summer, Kent said Tuesday will be his last day in the role. In a resignation statement, he said he cannot in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-tuck-female-draft-into-defense-bill\/\" title=\"Democrats Tuck Female Draft Into Defense Bill\">good conscience support<\/a> the ongoing war in Iran, arguing Iran posed no imminent threat and that the conflict was initiated under pressure from Israel and it&#8217;s American lobby.<\/p>\n<p>Kent praised Trump\u2019s first term for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >applying military power<\/a> without endless wars and noted victories against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, including the killing of Qassem Soleimani. He accused high-ranking Israeli officials and portions of the American media of running a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/steven-crowder-temporarily-suspended-from-twitter-over-voter-fraud-post-crowder-responds-fight-like-hell\/\" title=\"Steven Crowder Temporarily Suspended From Twitter Over Voter Fraud Post; Crowder Responds: \u2018Fight Like Hell\u2019\">misinformation campaign<\/a> that undermined Trump\u2019s America first platform and fueled pro-war sentiment.As a veteran and Gold Star husband (his wife Shannon died in a war he says was manufactured by Israel), Kent urged the president to reverse course in Iran, warning that continuing the war would hasten decline and chaos. There was no immediate comment from the White House or the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Joe Kent, Trump&rsquo;s counterterrorism director, becomes first administration official to resign over Iran war<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2534724\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Joe Kent, the director of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4489350\/trump-unsure-iran-war-nobel-peace-prize\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Kent served 11 combat tours before joining the Central Intelligence Agency in 2018 and taking over the administration&rsquo;s counterterrorism center last summer. He is the first high-ranking Trump administration official to leave his post based on the president&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4487927\/white-house-democrats-perverted-war-powers-obstruct-trump\/\">war in Iran<\/a>. Tuesday will be Kent&rsquo;s last day leading the agency, which is nested under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he announced in a statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4493606\/trump-dismisses-allies-seeks-coalition-secure-strait-hormuz\/\">Trump dismisses allies as he seeks to secure the Strait of Hormuz: &#8216;We don&#8217;t need them&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4493531\/trump-former-president-praise-iran-strikes\/\">Trump says former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-hints-at-daughter-in-laws-future-senate-run\/\" title=\"... Trump hints at daughter-in-law\u2019s future Senate run\">president praised<\/a> his Iran strikes, but all four issue denials<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4493536\/trump-honor-of-taking-cuba\/\">Trump claims he will have the &#8216;honor&#8217; of taking Cuba<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,&rdquo; Kent wrote. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kent&rsquo;s statement specifically praised Trump&rsquo;s actions during his first term in office &ldquo;to decisively apply military power without getting us drawn into never-ending wars,&rdquo; as illustrated by military victories over the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and the assassination of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/qassem-soleimani\/\">Qassem Soleimani<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Kent proceeded to accuse &ldquo;high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media&rdquo; of deploying a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4487005\/trump-could-end-iran-war-without-unconditional-surrender\/\">misinformation campaign<\/a> surrounding Iran, which Kent claimed &ldquo;wholly undermined [Trump&rsquo;s] America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This echo chamber was used to deceive [Trump] into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should [Trump] strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war. As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that seves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4491377\/vance-north-carolina-pray-for-troops-iran-operation-epic-fury\/\"><strong>VANCE ASKS NORTH CAROLINA TO PRAY FOR TROOPS BUT DOESN&rsquo;T DENY CAUTIONING TRUMP AGAINST IRAN WAR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kent closed by pressing the president to &ldquo;reverse course&rdquo; in Iran, arguing that continuing the war would &ldquo;allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Neither the White House nor the ODNI responded to requests for comment on Kent&rsquo;s resignation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kent resigns; first Trump official to quit over Iran<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2645,"featured_media":2580812,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26049599559368.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[40796,3823,6522,3634,50434],"class_list":["post-2580811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-counterterrorism","tag-iran","tag-resignation","tag-trump","tag-war-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26049599559368.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2580811"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2580815,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580811\/revisions\/2580815"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2580812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2580811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2580811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2580811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}