Trump’s key ally resigns as Iran war exposes rift within MAGA movement

[Financial News] A senior official in the Trump administration has abruptly tendered his resignation, saying he cannot support a war between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), announced on X (formerly Twitter), "After much reflection, I have decided to resign as director effective today."
This is the first time since Donald John Trump launched the large-scale military operation "Operation Epic Fury" against the Islamic Republic of Iran together with Israel on the 28th of last month that a senior administration official has publicly voiced opposition and stepped down.
Kent has been regarded as part of Trump’s core base of supporters, so his resignation is being seen as a clear sign that internal divisions over the war are now coming to the surface.
Kent argued, "As a matter of conscience, I cannot support the ongoing war in Iran," adding, "Iran was not an immediate threat to the United States, and this war was launched under pressure from Israel and pro-Israel lobby groups in the United States."
He also released the letter he sent to Trump. In it, he wrote, "During your first term in office, you were a leader who understood how not to drag America into endless wars," and said, "You proved that through the removal of Qasem Soleimani and the defeat of Islamic State (IS)."
However, he went on to say, "Since the start of Trump’s second term, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in the U.S. media have run a misguided campaign that undermines America First and pushes for war with Iran," adding, "This campaign has fostered the false belief that Iran poses an imminent threat to the United States and that a swift victory is possible if we strike."
Kent stressed, "This is the same lie and the same tactics that were used during the Iraq War," and warned, "We must not repeat the same mistake."
He added in particular, "I lost my spouse in a war sparked by Israel," and said, "I cannot send the next generation into wars that do nothing to serve America." Kent’s spouse, who was serving in the military, was killed in a suicide bombing in the Syrian Arab Republic in 2019.
He urged Trump to quickly bring the conflict to an end, saying, "We need to take a hard look at what we are doing in Iran," and, "Now is the time to make a decision."
Trump responded during a meeting with Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin at The White House, saying, "After reading his statement, I realized it was actually a good thing that he left," and added, "He is a good man, but I have always thought he was very weak on national security."
Rejecting Kent’s claim that Iran is not an immediate threat, Trump countered, "Iran was clearly a threat. Anyone who denies that is not smart."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter