Top Counterterrorism Official Quits Over Iran War

Joe Kent's resignation letter challenges Trump's rationale for attacking Iran, raising questions about Tulsi Gabbard's stance

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:34pm

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Joe Kent, the U.S. government's top counterterrorism official and a self-identified 'America First' Republican, has resigned from his position, citing his belief that Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S. Kent's resignation letter directly contradicts President Trump's justification for the attack on Iran, and has raised questions about whether Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, will follow suit.

Why it matters

Kent's resignation is the first high-profile defection from the Trump administration over the decision to go to war with Iran. His public break with the president's rationale for the attack challenges the White House's narrative and could embolden other officials who have doubts about the intelligence used to justify the conflict. Gabbard's response will be closely watched, as she has long opposed 'regime-change wars' but has remained in the administration since the attack on Iran.

The details

In his resignation letter, Kent wrote that 'Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation,' contradicting Trump's claims that Iran was about to use a nuclear weapon and that its missiles 'could soon' reach the U.S. Kent, who has access to highly classified intelligence, suggested that the intelligence assessments do not support the president's assertions. The White House has pushed back, saying there were 'many false claims' in Kent's letter.

  • On February 28, the U.S. and Israel first attacked Iran.
  • On March 18, Joe Kent submitted his resignation letter.
  • On March 19, Tulsi Gabbard is scheduled to testify in the Senate on global security threats.

The players

Joe Kent

The U.S. government's top counterterrorism official and a self-identified 'America First' Republican who has resigned from his position, citing his belief that Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S.

Tulsi Gabbard

The director of national intelligence who has long warned against open-ended wars and has remained silent since the U.S. attack on Iran, raising questions about whether she will follow Kent's lead and resign.

Donald Trump

The president who ordered the attack on Iran, claiming that the country posed an imminent threat, a claim that is not supported by earlier U.S. intelligence assessments according to Kent's resignation letter.

Mark Warner

The Democratic vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee who has said that there was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify the U.S. rushing into another war in the Middle East.

Tom Cotton

The Republican chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee who disagrees with Kent's 'misguided assessment' of the available information, arguing that Iran's 'vast missile arsenal and support for terrorism posed a grave and growing threat to America.'

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What they’re saying

“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation.”

— Joe Kent, Former U.S. government counterterrorism official

“There was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.”

— Mark Warner, Democratic vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee

“Iran's vast missile arsenal and support for terrorism posed a grave and growing threat to America. Indeed, the ayatollahs have maimed and killed thousands of Americans. President Trump recognized this threat and made the right call to eliminate it.”

— Tom Cotton, Republican chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (X)

What’s next

Tulsi Gabbard is set to testify in the Senate on March 19 and the House on March 20, where she is expected to be questioned about her stance on the decision to attack Iran and whether she shares Kent's concerns.

The takeaway

Kent's resignation highlights the growing divisions within the Trump administration over the decision to go to war with Iran, with some officials questioning the intelligence used to justify the attack. Gabbard's response will be closely watched, as her stance on 'regime-change wars' has been a central part of her political identity.