Joe Kent and Trump’s turnover problem

Published March 20, 2026 9:19am ET



Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned Tuesday after asserting that Iran posed “no imminent threat.” Kent said he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s move toward war, citing deep concerns over the justification for military strikes. Just 24 hours later, he was facing a federal investigation for allegedly leaking classified information.

This comes just two weeks after President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The announcement followed mounting criticism over her leadership, a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign, and intense congressional hearings, marking her as the first major Cabinet shake-up of his second term.

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