Joe Kent Blames Israel for US Iran War Involvement in Explosive Tucker Carlson Interview
In a revealing interview with Tucker Carlson following his resignation, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent squarely blamed Israel for the United States' involvement in the Iran War. Kent continued to assert that an imminent threat from Tehran 'simply did not exist', framing the conflict as a result of undue pressure from the Israeli state and its influential American lobby.
Resignation and Core Allegations
Kent submitted his resignation on Tuesday, stating he could not in good conscience support the ongoing war. He declared that Iran posed no imminent threat to America and that the decision to go to war was driven 'due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby'. Carlson, who noted spending the last 24 hours with Kent, introduced the interview by playing a 2024 chat where Kent predicted the war would go poorly, before pressing him to elaborate on his resignation letter.
Kent reiterated to Carlson, who has also criticised Donald Trump over the strikes, that there was no credible threat from Iran and that the war was conducted on Israel's behalf. He cited a statement by Senator Marco Rubio shortly after the conflict began as evidence. 'This speaks to the broader issue: who is in charge of our policy in the Middle East? Who is in charge of when we decide to go to war or not?' Kent questioned, arguing that public comments from President Trump, Rubio, and Speaker Mike Johnson confirm 'the Israelis drove the decision to take this action which we knew would set off a series of events, meaning the Iranians would retaliate'.
Alliance Concerns and Lobby Influence
While affirming no issue with the US alliance with Israel, Kent insisted America must control how its provided weapons are used. 'It's fine that we offer defense to Israel, but when we're providing the means of defense, we get to dictate the terms of when they go on the offensive, otherwise they stand to lose that relationship,' he stated. He claimed Israel felt emboldened to act, knowing the US would have to react, and highlighted 'a lobby' pushing for war.
Kent acknowledged Iran has been a historical threat and praised Trump's past Middle East actions, but maintained this war was a grave error. He accused the President of abandoning the non-interventionist principles he campaigned on. In his resignation letter, the former Army Special Forces soldier wrote: 'Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards.'
Political Divides and Personal Background
President Trump dismissed Kent's argument when questioned, calling it a 'good thing that [Kent's] out' and labelling him 'very weak on security'. Kent, who deployed to combat 11 times and lost his wife Shannon in what he terms a war manufactured by Israel, is closely aligned with the populist 'America First' wing, including Tulsi Gabbard and Vice President JD Vance, both cautioning against new Middle East entanglements.
His resignation exposes a widening split within Trumpworld. Kent accused high-ranking Israeli officials and American media of running a 'misinformation campaign' to deceive the President about an imminent Iranian threat, drawing parallels to the Iraq war lead-up. This divide pits the Gabbard-Vance non-interventionist faction against hawkish Republicans supporting Israel and a harder line on Tehran.
War Impact and Reactions
The war has spiralled across the Middle East, closing the Strait of Hormuz and causing 13 troop deaths with hundreds injured across seven countries. Gas prices surged to an average of $3.80 a gallon from $2.90 pre-conflict three weeks ago, while the strait—through which a fifth of global oil flows—remains blocked by Iranian mines and missiles.
Kent's resignation drew immediate praise from prominent 'America First' voices. Marjorie Taylor Greene called him 'a great American hero', while Candace Owens declared Trump 'a shameful President' and urged troops to consider conscientious objection, labelling Kent a 'patriot'. Conversely, pro-Israel activist Laura Loomer called Kent a 'notorious leaker' and predicted Gabbard would resign next, alleging the timing aimed to overshadow her scheduled Congressional testimony.
Kent's Career and Political Journey
Kent, 45, has a decorated two-decade military career in US Special Forces, followed by a role as a CIA paramilitary officer after 11 combat tours in Iraq. His wife, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, was killed in a Syria suicide bombing, leaving two young children. Post her death, Kent launched a political career advocating against Middle East military intervention.
He ran for Congress in Washington in February 2021 against Republican Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot. After a tough primary, Kent won the Republican nomination with Trump's endorsement but lost the general election to Democrat Marie Perez. He ran again in 2024 in the same district, losing once more. His 2021 campaign received financial support from Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, who also backed JD Vance in Ohio.
