A senior US counterterrorism official suddenly resigned, publicly opposing involvement in war; the White House scrambled to contain the situation.
2026-03-18 14:45:13
Amid escalating conflict between the US and Israel and Iran, and severe turmoil in global energy markets, Joe Kent, the Trump administration's top counterterrorism official, formally submitted his resignation to the White House on Monday evening (March 16), publicly expressing his strong opposition to US involvement in a war against Iran.
This event quickly shocked Washington and the international community, marking the first time a senior U.S. official had publicly questioned the conflict. The White House leadership swiftly launched a crisis management campaign, fiercely criticizing Kent while downplaying his influence, and simultaneously sending a clear message internally: open opposition to war would not be tolerated.
Joe Kent posted a one-page resignation letter on his X account, which had been viewed more than 70 million times as of Tuesday evening.
In his letter, he stated that Trump was deceived into getting involved in the conflict by “people with ulterior motives” and emphasized that Iran does not pose an imminent threat to the United States.
According to a senior government official, many White House aides did not expect Kent to publicly release his resignation letter in the form of an official letter, a move that came as a complete surprise.
In his letter, Kent wrote, "In my conscience, I cannot support the ongoing war with Iran." He added, "Iran does not pose an imminent threat to our country, and it is clear that we are launching this war under pressure from Israel and its powerful U.S. lobby." This view resonates strongly with some voices within the non-interventionist faction of the Trump coalition, including prominent conservative media figure Tucker Carlson.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement earlier Tuesday strongly refuting Kent's letter. She stated, "Trump possesses strong and compelling evidence that Iran would have attacked the United States first."
White House officials emphasized that Kent was not involved in war planning or execution discussions, deliberately downplaying his influence.
"I always thought he was a good guy, but he was weak on security issues," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. He added, "When I read his statement, I realized it was a good thing he was gone."
Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell called Kent's letter "vicious anti-Semitism."
Kent had previously informed Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles of his intention to resign, and Trump himself was also aware of it. A spokesperson for Vance stated that Vance believed "the national security team must remain united, trust each other, and avoid leaking internal deliberations to the media."
Kent, 45, had completed 11 combat deployments and ran unsuccessfully twice as the Republican nominee for Congress in Washington state in 2022 and 2024. He mentioned his late wife, Shannon, who died in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019, in his resignation letter.
Former colleagues said that Kent had long held a non-interventionist diplomatic stance and was cautious about overseas conflicts without clear objectives or end dates.
In a January 2024 interview with Carlson, Kent warned that an attack on Iran could trigger a “very bloody” spiral of conflict in the Middle East. He said at the time, “It’s absolutely insane. It’s opening Pandora’s box.”
Kent's superior, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, issued a statement on Tuesday refuting Kent's assertion that Iran did not pose an imminent threat. She wrote, "As Commander-in-Chief, Trump is responsible for determining what constitutes an imminent threat and what does not." She added that after reviewing intelligence, "President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamic regime in Iran posed an imminent threat, and he acted based on that conclusion."
The statement did not name Kent, nor did it elaborate on Gabbard's own views on the war.
Kent's resignation sparked public questioning of the war within the Republican Party. Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski stated, "I hope the president can find a way to end this war, and I think how to do that is becoming increasingly difficult."
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul praised Kent: "I know he has been a supporter of 'America First' from the beginning and still is."
Technology investor David Sacks had previously urged Trump to find a way out on his podcast. He stated, "It doesn't take political genius to understand that a protracted war is unwelcome." He added, "Let's get this over with."
Trump has shown clear dissatisfaction in recent days with media coverage and the level of support from allies. According to sources, he is extremely angry about rising gasoline prices and the closed Strait of Hormuz, and some advisors hope the conflict can be defused in the coming weeks.
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on social media Tuesday, "I've never heard him so angry in my life."
Kent's resignation marks the first time a senior official within the Trump administration has publicly opposed the war, highlighting the widening rift between the non-interventionist faction and the hawks . Although the White House has made an emergency attempt to distance itself, this event has already drawn widespread attention in Washington and the international community. In the coming weeks, whether the conflict de-escalates, the strength of allied coordination, and domestic political pressure will directly determine the course of the war and the stability of the Trump administration.
Investors and observers should closely monitor subsequent personnel changes and foreign policy adjustments in the White House, as this event may become a key turning point in the course of the Iran war.
This event quickly shocked Washington and the international community, marking the first time a senior U.S. official had publicly questioned the conflict. The White House leadership swiftly launched a crisis management campaign, fiercely criticizing Kent while downplaying his influence, and simultaneously sending a clear message internally: open opposition to war would not be tolerated.
Kent's resignation letter has garnered over 70 million views, catching the White House off guard.
Joe Kent posted a one-page resignation letter on his X account, which had been viewed more than 70 million times as of Tuesday evening.
In his letter, he stated that Trump was deceived into getting involved in the conflict by “people with ulterior motives” and emphasized that Iran does not pose an imminent threat to the United States.
According to a senior government official, many White House aides did not expect Kent to publicly release his resignation letter in the form of an official letter, a move that came as a complete surprise.
In his letter, Kent wrote, "In my conscience, I cannot support the ongoing war with Iran." He added, "Iran does not pose an imminent threat to our country, and it is clear that we are launching this war under pressure from Israel and its powerful U.S. lobby." This view resonates strongly with some voices within the non-interventionist faction of the Trump coalition, including prominent conservative media figure Tucker Carlson.
Trump's campaign has been scrambling to contain the damage, with allies publicly distancing themselves from the issue.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement earlier Tuesday strongly refuting Kent's letter. She stated, "Trump possesses strong and compelling evidence that Iran would have attacked the United States first."
White House officials emphasized that Kent was not involved in war planning or execution discussions, deliberately downplaying his influence.
"I always thought he was a good guy, but he was weak on security issues," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. He added, "When I read his statement, I realized it was a good thing he was gone."
Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell called Kent's letter "vicious anti-Semitism."
Kent had previously informed Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles of his intention to resign, and Trump himself was also aware of it. A spokesperson for Vance stated that Vance believed "the national security team must remain united, trust each other, and avoid leaking internal deliberations to the media."
Kent has long held a non-interventionist stance, which aligns with the views of some of Trump's allies.
Kent, 45, had completed 11 combat deployments and ran unsuccessfully twice as the Republican nominee for Congress in Washington state in 2022 and 2024. He mentioned his late wife, Shannon, who died in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019, in his resignation letter.
Former colleagues said that Kent had long held a non-interventionist diplomatic stance and was cautious about overseas conflicts without clear objectives or end dates.
In a January 2024 interview with Carlson, Kent warned that an attack on Iran could trigger a “very bloody” spiral of conflict in the Middle East. He said at the time, “It’s absolutely insane. It’s opening Pandora’s box.”
Kent's superior, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, issued a statement on Tuesday refuting Kent's assertion that Iran did not pose an imminent threat. She wrote, "As Commander-in-Chief, Trump is responsible for determining what constitutes an imminent threat and what does not." She added that after reviewing intelligence, "President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamic regime in Iran posed an imminent threat, and he acted based on that conclusion."
The statement did not name Kent, nor did it elaborate on Gabbard's own views on the war.
Cracks are emerging within the Republican Party, with some lawmakers calling for troop withdrawal.
Kent's resignation sparked public questioning of the war within the Republican Party. Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski stated, "I hope the president can find a way to end this war, and I think how to do that is becoming increasingly difficult."
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul praised Kent: "I know he has been a supporter of 'America First' from the beginning and still is."
Technology investor David Sacks had previously urged Trump to find a way out on his podcast. He stated, "It doesn't take political genius to understand that a protracted war is unwelcome." He added, "Let's get this over with."
Internal conflicts within the Trump camp have intensified, and the prospects for war remain uncertain.
Trump has shown clear dissatisfaction in recent days with media coverage and the level of support from allies. According to sources, he is extremely angry about rising gasoline prices and the closed Strait of Hormuz, and some advisors hope the conflict can be defused in the coming weeks.
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on social media Tuesday, "I've never heard him so angry in my life."
Kent's resignation marks the first time a senior official within the Trump administration has publicly opposed the war, highlighting the widening rift between the non-interventionist faction and the hawks . Although the White House has made an emergency attempt to distance itself, this event has already drawn widespread attention in Washington and the international community. In the coming weeks, whether the conflict de-escalates, the strength of allied coordination, and domestic political pressure will directly determine the course of the war and the stability of the Trump administration.
Investors and observers should closely monitor subsequent personnel changes and foreign policy adjustments in the White House, as this event may become a key turning point in the course of the Iran war.
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