FBI Investigation into Joe Kent
The FBI is conducting an investigation into Donald Trump's former top counter-terrorism official, Joe Kent, who resigned from his position earlier this week. Sources informed CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that the inquiry concerns alleged leaks of classified information. The investigation reportedly began prior to Kent's departure as the US National Counterterrorism Center director.
Kent's Resignation and Statements
On Tuesday, Kent announced his resignation, stating he could not support the war in Iran "in good conscience" and asserted that the country "posed no imminent threat" to the United States. The White House dismissed this claim.
The BBC reached out to Kent for comment regarding the allegations of leaks, while the FBI declined to provide any statements.
According to a source speaking to CBS, the FBI's criminal division is managing the probe, which has been ongoing for some time.
Accusations and Reactions
Shortly after Kent's resignation, Taylor Budowich, former deputy White House chief of staff, accused Kent of being "often at the center of national security leaks," though he did not specify the nature of these leaks.
Budowich further alleged that Kent "spent all of his time working to subvert the chain of command and undermine the President of the United States."
Content of Kent's Resignation Letter
In a letter addressed to President Trump announcing his resignation, Kent claimed it was "clear" that the war in Iran was initiated "due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a US organization monitoring antisemitism, issued a statement condemning the accusations in Kent's resignation letter, stating they "traffic in old-age antisemitic tropes."
Interview with Tucker Carlson
On Wednesday evening, Kent spoke with right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson, reiterating his claim that the decision to attack Iran was led by Israel.
"There had been 'no intelligence' suggesting that Iran would launch a 'sneak attack' on the US and that Iran was not on the verge of getting a nuclear weapon," Kent said.
He also alleged that some of the government's "key decision makers" had limited access to President Trump in the lead-up to the Iran war and that there had been no "robust debate" prior to the strikes.
Kent added that he had a "great" conversation with Trump regarding his resignation and believed they had "departed personally on good terms."
White House and Trump's Response
Following Kent's resignation, the White House dismissed his letter, stating that the president had "compelling evidence" that Iran was planning to attack the US first.
President Trump later responded to Kent's claims, describing him as a "nice guy" but stating it was a "good thing" he was no longer in government. Trump added that he had always considered Kent to be "very weak on security."
Background on Joe Kent
Kent, a long-time supporter of Trump who unsuccessfully ran for Congress twice, was nominated by the president early in his administration and confirmed to his post in July 2025.
