United News of Bangladesh

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday, citing his inability to “in good conscience” support the Trump administration’s war in Iran. Kent, in a social media statement, said Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation” and claimed the U.S. started the conflict due to “pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” The White House did not immediately comment on his resignation. Kent, a former political candidate with ties to right-wing extremist groups, was confirmed to lead the center last July by a 52-44 Senate vote. In his role, he oversaw an agency responsible for analyzing and detecting terrorist threats. Before joining the Trump administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful congressional campaigns in Washington state. He served 11 deployments as a Green Beret and later worked at the CIA. Democrats opposed his confirmation, citing his past connections to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. During his 2022 campaign, Kent hired Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right Proud Boys, and worked closely with Joey Gibson, founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer. He also received backing from various far-right activists. During his confirmation hearing, Kent refused to distance himself from claims that federal agents instigated the January 6 Capitol attack and from false assertions that Trump won the 2020 election. Democrats questioned his participation in a Signal group chat used by Trump’s national security team to discuss sensitive military plans. Republicans praised Kent’s counterterrorism credentials, with Sen. Tom Cotton calling him “dedicated to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”