MAGA Ally Joins Trump Administration, Will Work For DNI Gabbard
On Thursday, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, announced that a former U.S. counterterrorism official and notable MAGA figure is rejoining government service.
Joe Kent, a veteran of the U.S. Army and a former CIA paramilitary officer who previously campaigned for Congress as a Republican, has been appointed as the new Director of the National Counterterrorism Center. In this capacity, Kent will supervise U.S. initiatives aimed at preventing and disrupting domestic terrorism plots, collaborating with the CIA, FBI, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security within a joint operations framework.
Gabbard posted a photograph of Joe Kent taking his oath of office at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Washington, D.C.
“It was an honor to swear in Joe Kent as the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center at @ODNIgov,” she stated in her post on X.
“With two decades of military service, including 11 combat deployments, Joe has consistently prioritized his country over himself. His experience as a frontline operative in some of the world’s most perilous regions has provided him with a profound, practical insight into the threats we encounter,” she further remarked.
“I am proud to welcome soldier, father, husband, and patriot @NCTCKent to our leadership team!”
In a statement, Gabbard elaborated: “Under Joe’s leadership, the National Counterterrorism Center will revitalize its emphasis on counterterrorism and counternarcotics, integrating Federal, State, and Local law enforcement and intelligence agencies to execute President Trump’s border security mandate and safeguard the safety, security, and freedom of the American populace.”
Kent, 45, is a former Army Ranger who completed 11 deployments, mainly in Iraq, before transitioning in 2018 to serve as a CIA paramilitary officer. He entered the political sphere following the tragic loss of his wife, Shannon, who was killed in a suicide bombing in 2019.
In 2021, Kent emerged victorious in the Republican primary for Washington’s 3rd congressional district; however, he faced a narrow defeat against Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) in what many regarded as an upset at that time.
His appointment by Director Gabbard to head the National Counterterrorism Center necessitated confirmation from the U.S. Senate, which Kent successfully obtained earlier this month.
“It is a significant honor to be confirmed as NCTC Director at this crucial juncture,” Kent remarked. “I have dedicated over twenty years to the counterterrorism effort, from Fallujah to Yemen, enduring the loss of my wife Shannon and numerous comrades in arms to this conflict.
“Their sacrifices inspire me to lead with unwavering determination to ensure the safety of Americans. There is no more opportune moment to undertake this mission, and I am profoundly thankful to President Trump and DNI Gabbard for placing their trust in me to guide NCTC in combating the threats we encounter,” Kent further stated.
Last week, Gabbard unveiled a multitude of documents detailing how the intelligence community evaluated Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election between Trump and Hillary Clinton during the final days of President Barack Obama’s administration.
An initial Presidential Daily Brief dated December 8, 2016, indicated that there was scant evidence of any significant intervention and that Russian-led data breaches “had no effect on the recent U.S. election outcomes.”
Gabbard continued by asserting that the PDB was dismissed at Obama’s behest, who subsequently instructed his intelligence community to create a document asserting that the Russians had intervened in favor of Trump.
She claimed that then-DNI James Clapper supervised the creation of a later presidential brief that included the unfounded allegation. This brief was later leaked to prominent media outlets, and the narrative was subsequently employed to undermine Trump throughout his initial term.