A top aide to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Kent became the first major Trump administration official to depart over the conflict in the Middle East.
Kent shared the resignation letter on social media, where he urged the president to reverse course on the multi-week war that has ignited the region.
"I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby," Kent wrote.
"I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now," Kent said. "You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards."
Gabbard — known for her previous staunch opposition to U.S. intervention and against military action in Iran — put out a careful statement following Kent's resignation, saying that the president concluded that Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S. and that Trump "took action based on that conclusion."
But she did not offer her own assessment of the threat.
Kent's resignation is shining a spotlight on divisions within Trump's MAGA coalition.
"It's bigger than any resignation that happened under Biden for Gaza," said Curt Mills, editor of The American Conservative magazine, which argues for restraint in foreign policy.
On Tuesday, Trump said Kent "seemed like a pretty nice guy" but was "very weak on security."
Gabbard is among the senior officials set to testify in the House and Senate this week for "worldwide threats" hearings.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
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