President Donald Trump led an insurgent takeover of the Republican Party. Now, one prominent MAGA dissident believes conservative critics of the Iran war could use the same tactics to reshape the GOP. Joe Kent, who resigned from the Trump administration over his opposition to the conflict, has been exploring how to channel anti-war sentiment into political action.
The Rise of MAGA Dissent
Kent is at the center of a growing MAGA backlash to the war, which has sparked outrage among some on the right who believe the conflict clashes with Trump’s campaign pledges to avoid foreign military entanglements. He met with other prominent MAGA war dissenters last month to plot their next steps. “We know that we have something here in terms of political energy,” Kent said. “We know that people are frustrated.”
A Movement in Motion
- A gathering at the Maine home of conservative media personality Tucker Carlson fueled speculation about a new political movement centered around conservative non-interventionism.
- Massie, Greene, and Carlson have all clashed with Trump on Iran. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from her position earlier this year, posted a photo on social media with the caption, “the movement has begun.”
- Kent shared details of the confab, saying an anti-war political coalition could be a force in future elections. “We still just have to flesh out what this coalition is all about,” he said.
Background and Resignation
Kent joined the Trump administration last year as the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center. An Army veteran and close ally of former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, another military veteran who has embraced MAGA non-interventionism, Kent said he was drawn to the president by his foreign policy platform. He resigned from the administration on March 17, less than three weeks into the Iran war.
In his resignation letter, Kent wrote about his 11 combat deployments and losing his wife, who was killed by a suicide bomber while serving with the Navy in Syria. He told Trump he opposed sending “the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.” There have been 18 U.S. casualties since the conflict began.
Political Repercussions
Kent also wrote in his letter that “we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby,” and claimed that Israeli officials and media members “deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First agenda.” Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said the letter displayed “virulent anti-Semitism.” Kent countered that he is focused on the Israeli government and “could care less what the religion is.” He added, “I don’t care if they all go to the same church as me, if they’re from a foreign country, I don’t want them dictating our foreign policy.”
The Future of the Coalition
While everyone gathered around Carlson’s table liked the idea of a third party, Kent noted significant hurdles. “I don’t know how viable the third-party independent lane actually is,” he said. “I just think that’s going to be really, really hard.” Instead, Kent pointed to the “Trump model,” suggesting that war critics could take a lesson from the president and “hijack” the GOP. Kent said the war could have lasting political repercussions, noting that the unpopular conflict is shadowing the 2026 midterm elections, hurting Trump’s approval rating, and threatening to drag down his party as it seeks to maintain control of Congress.
White House Response
The White House responded by calling Kent a “quitter.” Trump told reporters after Kent’s resignation, “I always thought he was a nice guy. But I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security.” Trump has struggled to end the war, with a June peace deal falling apart amid jockeying over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also noted that his vice president, J.D. Vance, a skeptic of military intervention, was “less enthusiastic” about launching the Iran war. The report also notes that it’s unclear how deep the appetite is for a GOP reckoning on Iran. The report also notes that but that support has slipped, a recent AP-NORC survey found most Republicans still back Trump on the conflict. The report also notes that service members killed in the war, and concerns about troop morale amid complaints about living conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. The report also notes that five months after resigning, Kent is continuing to press his case publicly while taking tentative steps to organize politically. The report also notes that he said that the president is too focused on a formal peace deal and should simply walk away. The report also notes that “ President Trump has destroyed nearly all of Iran’s military capabilities and is crushing what’s left of its abysmal economy with the most powerful naval blockade in world history,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement. The report also notes that that somehow means Iran is winning, in quitter Joe Kent’s twisted mind. The report also notes that iran has continued to threaten shipping in the strait.