Donald Trump’s chief counterterrorism official resigned today, criticizing the President’s actions in Iran. Joe Kent, the head of the National Counterterrorism Centre, stated that he could not support the administration’s Middle East policies as he believed Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States. Kent attributed the conflict to pressure from Israel and its influential American lobby.

His departure signals potential divisions within Trump’s support base, with many conservative figures denouncing the President’s military actions in Iran. Kent, who previously faced scrutiny for his ties to right-wing extremist groups like the Proud Boys, oversaw the agency responsible for identifying and addressing terrorist risks to the country.

A former CIA and military officer, Kent entered Trump’s administration after unsuccessful congressional campaigns in Washington state. Tragically, his late wife, Shannon, a US Navy linguist and cryptologist, was killed by a suicide bomber in Syria in 2019 while serving in combat operations against ISIS.

During his confirmation hearing, Kent declined to disavow conspiracy theories linking federal agents to the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, and false claims of Trump winning the 2020 election over Joe Biden. Democrats questioned Kent’s involvement in a Signal group chat used by Trump’s national security team for discussing sensitive military matters.

Despite criticisms, Republicans commended Kent’s expertise in counterterrorism, citing his extensive military and intelligence background. Senator Tom Cotton, chair of the intelligence committee, lauded Kent for his dedication to combating terrorism and ensuring American safety.