The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched a criminal probe into former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent regarding alleged unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The investigation predates Kent’s sudden resignation earlier this week, which followed his public opposition to the Trump administration’s military engagement with Iran.
Kent, a decorated military veteran and longtime Trump loyalist, submitted his resignation on Tuesday with a sharply worded letter addressed directly to the president. In the document, he asserted that Iran presented ‘no imminent threat’ to American interests and characterized the decision to initiate hostilities as being driven primarily by ‘pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.’ These remarks prompted immediate condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League, which identified them as recycling ‘old-age antisemitic tropes.’
The White House swiftly dismissed Kent’s assessment, maintaining that President Trump possessed ‘compelling evidence’ of an impending Iranian attack. In subsequent comments, the president described Kent as a ‘nice guy’ but expressed relief about his departure, noting he had always considered him ‘very weak on security.’
Taylor Budowich, former deputy White House chief of staff, amplified these criticisms, alleging that Kent had been ‘often at the center of national security leaks’ and consistently worked to ‘subvert the chain of command and undermine the President of the United States.’
In media appearances following his resignation, including an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Kent elaborated on his objections. He claimed there was ‘no intelligence’ indicating Iran planned a ‘sneak attack’ on the U.S. and disputed that Tehran was nearing nuclear weapons capability. He further alleged that key decision-makers surrounding the president had restricted access to Trump in the period leading up to the conflict, preventing a ‘robust debate’ on the matter.
Despite the brewing investigation and public friction, Kent stated that his personal relationship with Trump remained intact, characterizing their final conversation as ‘great’ and suggesting they ‘departed personally on good terms.’ Kent, who twice failed to secure a congressional seat, was initially nominated by Trump and confirmed to lead the National Counterterrorism Center in July 2025.