Joe Kent, who recently stepped down from his role as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, shared insights into his resignation, attributing it to growing doubts about President Donald Trump’s strategies, particularly concerning the conflict with Iran. During an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, Kent disclosed his belief that Trump was misled into the war by Israeli influence. This development unfolds amid a tense period for Trump’s administration, especially as the President has distanced himself from Israel following controversial strikes on an Iranian gas field, which ignited a series of retaliatory measures against the U.S.’s Arab allies. Kent recalled a poignant conversation with the late Charlie Kirk, where Kirk implored him, “Joe, stop us from getting into a war with Iran.”

Messages from Kirk hinted at his evolving stance against Israel in the months before his assassination, sparking conspiracies about the involvement of more than just a lone shooter. Although Kent suggested that foreign entities and possibly other domestic forces might be linked to Kirk’s death, he stopped short of directly accusing Israel and offered no concrete evidence. He did, however, note that Kirk was under significant pressure from pro-Israel financial supporters. According to a source familiar with the FBI’s investigation, Kent frequently speculated, without proof, that foreign actors were behind Kirk’s assassination, often pointing fingers at Iran during meetings while failing to provide any supporting evidence.

The FBI has refrained from commenting on Kent’s assertions, and the White House did not respond to requests for comments on his interview. Kent voiced skepticism over the official conclusion that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson acted alone in Kirk’s murder at Utah Valley University on September 10. In his conversation with Carlson, Kent expressed frustration at the restrictions placed on further investigation, remarking, “Charlie Kirk was killed publicly in a very horrific way and we’re not really even allowed to look into that at all.” He acknowledged the possibility that Robinson acted alone but criticized the FBI’s decision to halt the NCTC’s involvement in the investigation, transferring all responsibilities to Utah authorities. Kent emphasized the presence of unresolved questions, stating, “There was still a lot for us to look into that I can’t really get into,” and expressed the need for further inquiry while withholding definitive conclusions.

Kent said in a post to X on Tuesday that he could not ‘in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran’ through his role under Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. ‘Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,’ he wrote in his resignation letter. Kent said in his podcast with Carlson that Kirk, the conservative luminary who helmed Turning Point USA, was one of ‘Trump’s closest advisers.’ ‘He also advocated heavily against a war with Iran. He was in the Oval Office in the lead-up to the 12-day war,’ Kent noted of the conflict in Iran back in June 2025. ‘The last time I saw Charlie Kirk on this earth was in June in the West Wing in the stairway. And I said hi to him and he looked me in the eye and said very loudly… ‘Joe, stop us from getting into a war with Iran,’ Kent said. He added: ‘Charlie was under a lot of pressure from a lot of pro-Israel donors. And, again, we know Charlie was advocating to President Trump against this war with Iran.’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hit back at the war’s critics at a press briefing on Thursday, slamming the media and America’s allies for having ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.’ The Defense Secretary tore into the press who ‘want President Trump to fail,’ but said that the American people ‘know better.’ He lashed out at ‘ungrateful allies in Europe’, claiming that the entire world ‘should be saying one thing to President Trump: Thank You.’ Hegseth’s meltdown comes as skyrocketing oil prices have triggered fresh inflation warnings from central banks including the Federal Reserve . Gasoline has surged to an average of $3.90 per gallon from $2.90 before the conflict began three weeks ago, while the Strait of Hormuz – through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows – remains blockaded by Iranian mines and missiles. US crude jumped by 1.5 percent on Thursday, while Brent crude – the global benchmark – shot up by 5.9 percent, hitting $114 per barrel. Hegseth insisted the war in Iran – which has so far killed 13 US troops and wounded 140 more across the Middle East – would not be the ‘quagmire’ of Iraq and Afghanistan, the legacy of ‘foolish politicians like Bush, Obama and Biden.’

The bravado came hours after Trump accused Israel of ‘lashing out in anger’ and claimed that the US ‘knew nothing of the attack’ which resulted in the bombing of energy sites in Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Trump has previously asked Israel to refrain from strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure amid growing concern over soaring prices as he faces crucial midterm elections in November. America’s Arab allies were furious at Israel’s attack and the US failure to prevent it. Gulf allies demanded the Trump administration halt all US and Israeli strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, the Wall Street Journal reported. Gulf officials said they feel as though Israeli strikes have left them vulnerable in the war. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump threatened to ‘massively blow up the entirety’ of Iran’s South Pars gas field if it continues to target refineries. ‘Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran,’ Trump wrote.

‘The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.’ An Iranian official likened that developments to a ‘full-scale economic war.’ Trump drew a red line on Israeli attacks on South Pars before lobbing a massive threat at Tehran. ‘NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field,’ Trump said. If Iran attacked Qatar again, Trump said, all bets were off and he would unleash devastating force.