Joe Kent, who resigned as Director of America’s National Counterterrorism Center on March 17, 2026, spoke to Tucker Carlson about the late Charlie Kirk, a former Trump advisor assassinated in September 2025. Kent stated that Kirk personally urged him in June 2025 to prevent U.S. military action against Iran, citing concerns over an unnecessary conflict and advocating for a reevaluation of U.S.-Israel policy.

Kent alleged that the NCTC’s investigation into potential foreign links related to Kirk’s Utah shooting—officially ruled a lone-gunman incident by the suspect Robinson—was abruptly halted and handed over to state authorities. He emphasized that investigative leads were left unexplored despite publicly available texts indicating pressures from pro-Israel donors on Kirk prior to his assassination.

According to Kent, the cessation of the federal investigation prevented a full understanding of the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death. He highlighted that these constraints were part of broader limitations placed on the NCTC’s work amid escalating U.S. strikes on Iran, which he asserts posed no imminent threat.

The interview has intensified debate over the intersection of U.S. foreign policy, intelligence oversight, and political pressures from external actors. Kent’s claims raise questions about the scope of counterterrorism investigations and the challenges faced by officials attempting to navigate high-stakes geopolitical and domestic pressures.