Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent is now reportedly under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, according to multiple sources cited by Semafor’s Shelby Talcott. The investigation, sources say, began before Kent abruptly resigned Tuesday, raising immediate questions about what was really behind his departure.
Talcott reported that three sources confirmed the probe, with a fourth source backing it up shortly after. The implications are massive: a top counterterrorism official, entrusted with some of the nation’s most sensitive intelligence, now under scrutiny by federal investigators.
And then came Kent’s resignation statement—which only poured fuel on the fire.
In a post on X, Kent announced he had stepped down because he could not “in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.” But he didn’t stop there. He made a stunning accusation, claiming Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and suggesting the conflict was driven by pressure from Israel and its allies in Washington.
That claim immediately set off alarm bells across the political spectrum.
Kent doubled down in a letter addressed to President Donald Trump, attempting to frame his position as aligned with Trump’s earlier foreign policy views. He argued that Trump once recognized Middle East conflicts as costly entanglements that drained American lives and resources.
But that argument didn’t land well with the commander-in-chief.
Trump responded bluntly—and decisively.
News: Joe Kent is under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, three sources tell me. I’m told the investigation pre-dates his departure.
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) March 18, 2026
Calling Kent’s resignation “a good thing,” Trump dismissed the former official as “very weak on security.” While acknowledging Kent seemed like a “nice guy,” Trump made it clear there was no strong relationship—and no hesitation in his judgment.
“I read his statement,” Trump said. “I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security.”
Now, with an FBI investigation looming and explosive claims about war decisions circulating publicly, the situation is rapidly escalating into a full-blown political and national security firestorm.
The timeline alone raises eyebrows. If the investigation predated Kent’s resignation, was his departure truly about policy disagreements—or was something bigger unfolding behind the scenes?
Either way, this story is far from over.
A senior intelligence official exits. Accusations of leaks surface. Claims about foreign influence ignite controversy. And a sitting president wastes no time distancing himself.
Washington isn’t just dealing with a resignation—it’s staring down a high-stakes investigation that could have serious consequences for national security and political trust alike.
