U.S. Intelligence Community

Joe Kent, confirmed as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in July 2025, abruptly resigned March 17, 2026, saying Iran posed "no imminent threat" and accusing Israel and its "powerful American lobby" of manufacturing the war — claims he repeated on Tucker Carlson’s podcast. His letter sparked bipartisan condemnation as antisemitic from figures including Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. Josh Gottheimer even as the White House, DNI Tulsi Gabbard and Speaker Mike Johnson defended the strike decision; Kent’s departure also came amid an FBI investigation into alleged leaks that predated his resignation and renewed scrutiny of his far‑right associations.