NCTC Director Joe Kent resigns and says Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S.

Joe Kent, Trump-appointed director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on March 17, 2026, posting his resignation letter on X and writing that he could not "in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran" because "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation." Kent stated the war began "due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby," making it the highest-profile dissent from a Trump administration insider. Trump dismissed Kent, telling reporters "I always thought he was weak on security" and "It's a good thing that he's out."