Arabic version: تحقيق مكتب التحقيقات الفيدرالي في جو كينت بشأن تسريبات أمنية مزعومة
The FBI is investigating Joe Kent, Donald Trump’s former top counter-terrorism official, over alleged leaks of classified information. According to BBC News, the investigation began before Kent’s resignation from his role as the director of the US National Counterterrorism Center earlier this week.
Kent announced his resignation on Tuesday, stating he could not support the war in Iran “in good conscience” and asserting that the country posed no imminent threat to the United States. This assertion was dismissed by the White House, which maintained that there was compelling evidence of an impending Iranian attack.
The FBI’s criminal division is handling the investigation, which has reportedly been ongoing for some time. Following Kent’s resignation, former deputy White House chief of staff Taylor Budowich claimed that Kent was often at the center of national security leaks but did not provide specific details.
In his resignation letter, Kent suggested that the war in Iran was initiated due to pressure from Israel and its influential American lobby. The Anti-Defamation League criticized this statement, stating that it perpetuated age-old antisemitic tropes. Kent later reiterated his claims during an appearance on a right-wing podcast, asserting that no intelligence indicated Iran was preparing to launch a sneak attack on the US.
President Trump reacted to Kent’s resignation by stating it was a “good thing” he was no longer in government and described him as “very weak on security.” Kent, a decorated military veteran and long-time Trump supporter, was nominated by the president and confirmed to his position in July 2025.
