Donald Trump recently revealed that he appointed Joe Kent to a senior national security role out of pity following the death of Kent’s wife. Kent, who resigned last month from his position as head of the National Counterterrorism Centre in protest of the Iran war, has since turned into a vocal critic of Trump’s foreign policy.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Kent as “dumb” and recounted their 2019 meeting at Dover Air Force Base when Kent’s wife, Shannon Mary Kent, was being returned home after being killed in Syria while serving as a Navy cryptologic technician. Trump noted Kent remarried soon after and pointed out that, despite his efforts to help Kent by offering him a role at the White House out of sympathy for his losses, he did not expect disloyalty in return.
Trump characterised Kent as a “sleazebag” and a leaker and expressed disappointment at him for being disloyal. He also used the opportunity to criticise conservative commentators like Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson, questioning their intelligence.
Kent, a former Army Ranger with extensive combat experience, has aligned himself with far-right positions but has recently distanced himself from Trump, particularly regarding military strategy in the Middle East. He voiced concerns about escalating tensions with Iran, arguing that an aggressive stance could lead to unnecessary conflict and loss of life. Kent believes it is essential to recognise when to withdraw and focus on restoring order rather than prolonging military engagement.
In his resignation, Kent stated he could not support the Iran war, asserting that the nation posed no direct threat to the US and that the conflict emerged due to external pressures, notably from Israel and influential lobbyists in America.