Joe Kent: Why I resigned over Iran

Joe Kent: Why I resigned over Iran

From UnHerd with Freddie Sayers by UnHerd

March 21, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

Joe Kent discusses his resignation from the Trump administration over the U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict.

UnHerd's Freddie Sayers speaks with Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, in his first international interview since his resignation from the Trump administration. A highly decorated Green Beret and CIA veteran, Kent became the most senior official to step down in protest of the ongoing war in Iran, which he describes as a ‘quagmire’ driven by external pressure rather than national interest. In this wide-ranging conversation, Kent alleges that the U.S. was misled into the conflict by the Israel lobby, shares personal reflections on the death of his wife in a ‘manufactured’ war, and raises questions about the investigation into the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Freddie Sayers

Guest: Joe Kent

Topics covered

  • Iran conflict
  • U.S. foreign policy
  • military service
  • personal loss
  • political resignation

Keywords

  • Joe Kent
  • Iran
  • Trump administration
  • National Counterterrorism Center
  • military
  • Charlie Kirk
  • Israel lobby

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Counterterrorism Center, Trump administration

Places: Iran

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