Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard swiftly crushed the narrative pushed by outgoing National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, making it crystal clear that President Trump acted lawfully, decisively, and with full intelligence backing when he ordered strikes against Iran.
Kent, who abruptly resigned on Tuesday, claimed in a public letter that Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States and suggested the war was driven by outside influence from Israel rather than American interests.
In a statement posted after Kent’s resignation went public, Gabbard made it crystal clear where she stands.
“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.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his 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.”
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
That statement directly undercuts Kent’s central claim and reaffirms the chain of command that Democrats and the media often try to blur when it’s politically convenient.
Kent, a former Green Beret and CIA officer, resigned Tuesday in protest of the administration’s military action against Iran. In his letter, he claimed:
- Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States
- The war was driven by “pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby”
- Trump had strayed from his original America First doctrine
President Trump didn’t mince words when asked about Kent’s departure.
“I always thought he was weak on security. Very weak on security,” Trump said, adding that Kent’s claim about Iran not being a threat proved “it’s a good thing he’s out.”
That blunt response aligns with the White House’s broader position: the Iran strike was not optional—it was necessary.
Officials have repeatedly pointed to intelligence suggesting Iran was preparing aggressive actions, including expanding missile capabilities and threatening U.S. forces and allies in the region.
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