In an obvious effort to dodge embarrassment, President Donald Trump prevented accountability Tuesday when requested in regards to the resignation of a prime official.
Trump was questioned in regards to the controversial transfer by the director of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Heart throughout a gathering with a prime Irish official, and he appeared to brush off its significance.
Joe Kent not solely introduced that he was stepping down from the place however was leaving in protest of the Iran battle.
When requested, Trump slammed Kent for failing on the very job he nominated him for, inadvertently exposing his personal judgment in selecting an official he as soon as praised
“I at all times thought he was a pleasant man, however I at all times thought he was weak on safety. I didn’t know him nicely,” Trump advised reporters.
Kent posted his resignation letter on X Tuesday, saying he couldn’t assist the battle with Iran and that it was pushed not by a menace however by Trump’s want to do Israel’s bidding.
“I can not in good conscience assist the continuing battle in Iran. Iran posed no imminent menace to our nation, and it’s clear that we began this battle attributable to strain from Israel and its highly effective American foyer,” Kent stated in a submit.
Nonetheless, Trump adamantly dismissed these claims that very same afternoon.
“It’s good factor that he’s out as a result of he stated that Iran was not a menace.. When any person is working with us that claims they didn’t suppose Iran was a menace—we don’t need these folks. They’re not good folks,” Trump added.
A longtime intelligence operative, Kent spent years working in battle zones and advising U.S. army operations on counterterrorism. He was appointed director of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Heart in 2025, following a glowing evaluate from Trump
“Joe has hunted down terrorists and criminals his complete grownup life,” Trump wrote in a February 2025 Fact Social submit. “ Above all, Joe is aware of the horrible price of terrorism, shedding his great spouse, Shannon, a Nice American Hero, who was killed within the battle towards ISIS. Joe continues to honor her legacy by staying within the battle. Joe will assist us preserve America protected by eradicating all terrorism, from the jihadists across the World.”
Again in 2022, Trump sang Kent’s praises whereas chatting with a crowd at Mar-a-lago, taking credit score for launching his political profession. The president stated he observed Kent had one thing “particular” after he met him on the Dover Air Power base ready for the dignified switch of his spouse’s physique, who died in fight.
“This man’s nice. I like him,” Trump stated.
The distinction between Trump’s previous reward and his sudden dismissal didn’t go unnoticed on-line. Trump critics shortly referred to as out the hypocrisy and mocked the full-circle second.
“The web by no means forgets,” one X consumer wrote. “Ha, this isn’t the first time he performed “silly” (once more) and insulted one in every of “his” nominees! What a douf!!!” One other critic chimed in.
“He at all times throws his folks underneath the bus after they go towards him. This reveals rather a lot about who he’s,” one individual summed it up.
