Gulf States, not Israel, really need Trump to take out the Iranian regime

Published March 19, 2026 2:00pm ET



In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

While four separate sets of radical Islamists planned and executed terrorist attacks on American soil this month, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center was apparently focused on other priorities. Joe Kent, who sprinted to Tucker Carlson‘s televised therapy session just one day after resigning from the Trump administration, claimed that the FBI blocked his investigation into who murdered Charlie Kirk. You would think that the FBI blocked the investigation because the mystery was already solved in the form of the forthcoming, slam-dunk prosecution of fanatical leftist Tyler Robinson. Rather, Kent insists that the case wasn’t closed, hinting that perhaps a certain foreign government killed the conservative firebrand because he had privately warned the president against Operation Midnight Hammer last summer.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.