₦airaland Forum

The Trump administration's top official on counterterrorism has resigned from his position, citing opposition to the war in Iran, and urged the president to "reverse course".


https://www.tiktok.com/video/7618228657202531598?_r=1&_t=ZS-94lewzQZj41


In a letter posted on Tuesday to his X account, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent said that Iran posed "no imminent threat" to the US and claimed that the Trump administration "started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby".

Kent, 45, is a US special forces and CIA veteran whose wife, navy cryptologic technician Shannon Kent, was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019.

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment on Kent's resignation.

With his departure, Kent becomes the most high-profile figure from within the Trump administration to publicly criticise the US-Israeli operation in Iran.

In the letter, Kent said that had previously supported Trump's foreign policy platform and until last year believed that he had "had understood that the wars in the Middle East that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation."

Additionally, Kent alleged that "high-ranking Israeli officials" and influential US journalists had sowed "misinformation" that caused Trump to undermine his "America First" platform.

"This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States," the letter continued. "This was a lie."

Kent, a long-time supporter of Trump's who unsuccessfully ran for Congress twice, was nominated by the president early in his administration and narrowly confirmed to his post in, with many Democrats criticising his links to extremist groups including members of the Proud Boys.

In the confirmation hearing, Kent also refused to back away from claims that federal agents had fomented the January 6 riots at the US Capitol or that Trump had won the 2020 election.

At the National Counterterrorism Center, he reported to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and oversaw the analysis and detection of potential terrorist threats from around the globe.

Previously, Kent had deployed 11 times overseas with the US military, including with the US Army's special forces in Iraq.

He later became a paramilitary officer at the CIA, before leaving government service after his wife's death.

Kent cited his military service and her death in his letter, saying that he "cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives."

There have been a number of resignations among senior officials in the Trump administration, including Security and Exchange Commission enforcement director Margaret Ryan and Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell.

The president's second term, however, has seen far less turnover than his previous tenure at the White House between 2017 and 2021.

fineboynl:
He can go. Trump is purging the system

Righteousness2:
Trump on Joe Kent’s resignation over Iran War:

When somebody is working with us and says they didn’t think Iran was a threat—uh, we don’t want those people, because there are some people, I guess, that would say that—but they’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people.

Iran was a TREMENDOUS THREAT.

dam2000:
Trump impeachment is certain prison is very sure for him

simigold:
Eye service resignations. Who ur resg help 😣

halima83:
Trump is on his own. NATO shunned him. Torrrrrrr

Righteousness2:
Bye bye mr. Kent ,Go in Peace

President Trump Trump is doing a Super Great Job for the American people and the World at large.

We don't need Judases and Confused Personalities who lack Spiritual and Physical Insights.

Estello:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4g66r3z40o

Righteousness2:
Bye bye mr. Kent ,Go in Peace

President Trump Trump is doing a Super Great Job for the American people and the World at large.

We don't need Judases and Confused Personalities who lack Spiritual and Physical Insights.

dam2000:
Trump impeachment is certain prison is very sure for him

HacheNoire:
Dude jump out from the losing team!

Doesn’t want his name included in the US administration that got defeated by Iran

Redarmada:
This one really pain u say dem no suoport ur God

HacheNoire:
Dude jump out from the losing team!

Doesn’t want his name included in the US administration that got defeated by Iran

LaIabobo:
Exactly. Iran posed no imminent threat to USA. It was all about Israel. Dem hold trump for balls.

Leave Isreal to fight their wars themselves. This is the same reason why most USA allies aren't in support of this war.

KingOfAmebo:
America is winning on nairaland by some ignorant Christians.