Tulsi Gabbard Issues Statement In Wake Of Joe Kent’s Resignation

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard issued a statement on X hours after the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) resigned over war with Iran.

Joe Kent posted on X that he was resigning from his situation effective immediately because he couldn’t support Trump’s conflict with Iran. Following the resignation, reports swirled on social media speculating about what led to Kent’s resignation.

Gabbard posted on X about the conflict, writing that her job is to present the president with all the best information to inform his decisions. Trump had decided that Iran posed “an imminent threat,” according to her statement.

Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief. As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the…

— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) March 17, 2026

“Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief. As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country,” Gabbard wrote on X, adding that her job is to “coordinate and integrate all intelligence” for the president to make decisions.

“After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion,” she added.

In the hours after Kent resigned, two Trump administration officials told the Caller that he had been left out of all conversations on Iran. (RELATED: White House Blasts Anti-War Coverage As ‘Fake News’ Minutes After Top Official Resigns Over Iran)

One senior Trump official told the Caller that Kent was cut out of the president’s daily intelligence briefings months ago, alleging that he was a known leaker.

The two sources differed on whether the White House had requested for Kent to be fired. 

One administration official told the Caller that the White House never asked for Kent to be fired, and that Gabbard would have fired him if they asked. The second administration official, this one with senior status, told the Caller that the White House did want Kent fired for suspected leaks, but he was never let go. 

Matt Tardio, whose X bio states he is a veteran and podcast host, responded to claims that Kent was a security risk to the administration.

“I went to Joe last week with a leak issue that would have gotten US Soldiers killed,” Tardio wrote on X.

“He picked up the phone, and handled it. I disagree with Joe’s views on this situation, but I do not believe him to be a risk to service members. He answered the phone to save their lives last week,” he added.

I also need to say this about Joe Kent being a potential security risk.

I went to Joe last week with a leak issue that would have gotten US Soldiers killed.

He picked up the phone, and handled it.

I disagree with Joe’s views on this situation, but I do not believe him to be a… https://t.co/02cQESQo7n

— Matt Tardio (@angertab) March 17, 2026

Kent was confirmed as NCTC director in July after being appointed by the president.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. 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,” Kent wrote in his post announcing his resignation. He added that the president’s America first platform was derailed by a “misinformation campaign” instigated by high-ranking Israeli officials and those in the American media.

John Hudson, a reporter with The Washington Post, said on X that Kent and Gabbard met with the vice president Monday prior to him making his resignation public. It was there Kent presented Vance with his letter of resignation, he reported, citing sources.

“The VP encouraged him to speak to White House chief of staff and POTUS before making any final decisions,” said a White House official. “The VP encouraged him to be respectful to POTUS.”

— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) March 17, 2026

President Donald Trump responded to the resignation after the Daily Caller asked for his reaction in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

“Director of the National Counterterrorism Joe Kent, he just resigned today. He said he can’t support your conflict with Iran. What’s your reaction to that?” Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese asked.

“Well, I always thought he was a nice guy, but I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security. I didn’t know him well, but I thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy,” Trump told the Caller. “But when I read his statement I realized, it’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat, every country realized what a threat Iran was. The question was whether or not they wanted to do something.”

Thank you President Trump!

It’s an honor to serve our nation again, time to keep our nation safe & strong! pic.twitter.com/yxyknrTTMN

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) February 4, 2025

Thirteen American servicemembers have died in the Iran-U.S. conflict, deemed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Trump administration. The operation was launched on Feb. 28, 2026.

Gabbard is set to testify before Congress on Wednesday.

She’s made previous statements opposing war with Iran, telling Fox News in 2019 that “a war with Iran would make the war in Iraq look like a cakewalk.”

“The devastation and the cost would be far greater than anything they’ve ever experienced,” she added.