U.S. National Security Leadership

On March 17, 2026, Joe Kent resigned effective immediately as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, posting a letter on X saying Iran "posed no imminent threat" and that the war was "manufactured" under pressure from Israel and its American lobby — a high‑profile protest that leaves the NCTC without a confirmed director during the conflict. President Trump, meeting with Ireland’s prime minister, called Kent "very weak on security" and welcomed his departure, while House Speaker Mike Johnson and other officials publicly rejected Kent’s assessment, saying classified briefings showed an imminent threat.