FBI Investigates Former Counterterrorism Chief Amid Claims of Leaking Classified Information

(SeaPRwire) –   Joe Kent—who has alleged that Israel exerted influence over President Donald Trump—is said to be under investigation as a “leaker”

According to Semafor, Joe Kent—former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center—resigned this week in protest against the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and is now the subject of an FBI investigation.

Sources cited by the outlet state that an investigation into the purported unauthorized sharing of classified data was initiated prior to Kent stepping down from his role and accusing the Israeli government of distorting intelligence to sway President Donald Trump’s choice to launch a bombing campaign intended to overthrow the Iranian regime.

The Thursday report coincided with efforts by Trump administration allies and pro-Israel commentators to paint Kent as a “known leaker” and a suspected anti-Semite.

Did Kent strike a political nerve?

In his resignation letter, Kent laid the blame for the outcomes of the latest Middle East conflict on Israel.

“Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran,” he wrote to Trump on Tuesday.

“This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory,” he added, suggesting Israel played a significant role in previous regional conflicts, including in Iraq and Syria.

These kinds of claims are rare in mainstream U.S. political discussion, where they may lead to charges of anti-Americanism and anti-Jewish prejudice—unlike critiques of the nation’s own leaders.

Over the years, Trump’s domestic critics have labeled him a “Russian puppet,” an insurrectionist, and a convicted felon who should be barred from a second term. Currently, left-leaning commentator Rachel Maddow asserts that the president launched attacks on Iran after being improperly influenced by Arab Gulf monarchies.

🔴 Rachel Maddow claims “it is the Gulf Arab states” that stand to benefit most from Iran being weakened. She said Gulf states “rented the services of the United States military to start a war that they want.”

In a nearly 20-minute segment titled “Follow the MONEY,” Rachel… pic.twitter.com/BvVurE7B5O

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 1, 2026

What are Kent’s national security qualifications?

Kent is a military veteran who completed 11 deployments, most of them in Iraq, before taking on a role as a CIA paramilitary officer. His late first wife, Shannon, served in the U.S. Army’s Intelligence Support Activity unit and was killed in a terrorist attack in Manbij, Syria, in 2019.

He has been an outspoken backer of Trump and his ‘Make America Great Again’ agenda. Prior to his appointment in Trump’s second administration, he openly opposed a possible U.S. war with Iran, cautioning that although the U.S. could cause harm, such a conflict would weaken the nation as it faces off against China.

Media reports have characterized Kent as an ally of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has long been against U.S. military interventions and once sold T-shirts bearing the slogan “No war with Iran.”

The DNI has stated that it is the president’s right to interpret intelligence however he deems appropriate. According to Bloomberg, Gabbard was said to have been marginalized within the administration, with her office informally labeled “Do Not Invite.”

How has Washington reacted to Kent’s resignation?

Trump responded to Kent’s resignation by describing him as “a nice guy” whom he didn’t know well, adding that Kent was “very weak on security” and that his exit was a positive development.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back against Kent’s assertion that Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the U.S. “This is the same false claim that Democrats and some in the liberal media have been repeating over and over,” she stated, adding that claims Trump acted under external influence were “both insulting and laughable.”

On the other hand, senior U.S. officials—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio—have noted that the timing of the U.S.-Israeli attack was shaped by pressure from West Jerusalem. Israel is said to have warned it would act whether or not the U.S. supported it. The administration has argued that joining the attack enabled it to better safeguard U.S. troops in the region from retaliatory actions.

Ben Shapiro, a well-known pro-Israel commentator, alleged that Kent “has been for a very long time conspiratorially minded in the extreme” and was advocating “bizarrely heterodox views.” He warned that “heretic MAGA” individuals were targeting the presidency.

Shapiro also referenced claims by far-right influencer Nick Fuentes that Kent had asked for his support during a congressional campaign and had agreed with his views—an accusation Kent has denied. Since critics label Fuentes an overt anti-Semite, the meaning behind Shapiro’s message was obvious.

Why is Kent’s resignation significant?

Kent stated that he remains dedicated to the ‘America First’ policy and urged Trump to change course. His resignation mirrors wider divisions within Trump’s political base, as some people accuse the president of reneging on his campaign pledges.

Trump claimed that he is the one who defines what MAGA stands for and excluded Tucker Carlson from the movement because the talk show host is against the war with Iran.

Kent had top-tier access to classified intelligence that likely shaped the administration’s decisions, and he is the first senior official to publicly voice opposition to the war with Iran.

The U.S. government has a history of internal disagreement over military interventions, which often comes to light only via anonymous leaks or memoirs released years later. For instance, former Secretary of State Colin Powell argued against the 2003 Iraq invasion in private, but publicly advocated for it at the United Nations—a move he later called a “painful” experience and a “blot” on his career.

What does Kent think Washington should do regarding Iran?

Kent talked about his resignation and his perspectives in an interview with Carlson.

“The main issue is how the Israelis are out of control and they are driving this entire war,” he said, adding that Trump has the leverage to make the necessary changes.He argued that U.S. protection of Israel should not be unconditional. America’s message, Kent said, should be: “You are done going on the offense because this is our war. We’re paying for it. We’re bleeding for it. This is not your war.”

“If we don’t address our relationship with the Israelis, even if we come up with a temporary ceasefire, we’ll be right back in this same situation in very short order,” he warned.