“I always thought he was weak on security. Very weak on security. I didn’t know him well. But he seemed like a pretty nice guy. But when I read his statement, I realised that it’s a good thing he’s out because he said Iran was not a threat,” President Donald Trump said Tuesday, responding to the resignation of Joe Kent, the outgoing director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
Speaking to reporters at a St. Patrick’s Day event, Trump reiterated his rejection of Kent’s reasoning and questioned his judgment on national security. “I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security,” Trump said, dismissing Kent’s stance that Iran “was not a threat.” He added that Kent’s departure was justified, given his public statement.
Kent, a veteran who deployed 11 times and lost his wife in combat, announced his resignation on X, citing ethical opposition to the war. “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,” he wrote.
In a detailed statement, Kent accused high-ranking Israeli officials and influential American media figures of running a misinformation campaign to push the U.S. into conflict, likening it to tactics used before the Iraq War. He urged Trump to reconsider the war, warning it would cost American lives and resources with no strategic benefit.
Kent also praised Trump’s prior approach to foreign policy, noting, “Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation.” He highlighted Trump’s decisive actions against Qasem Soleimani and ISIS as examples of measured military strategy.