During a joint press conference with the Taoiseach, President Trump was asked about Kent, who resigned from his post just moments before over his opposition to the war in Iran.
President Trump met with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Tuesday, St Patrick’s Day, at the White House. But as the two discussed the countries’ relationship, President Trump took an opportunity to launch an attack against recently-resigned National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent.
During a joint press conference with the Taoiseach, President Trump was asked about Kent, who resigned from his post just moments before over his opposition to the war in Iran.
“I always thought he was a nice guy, but I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security,” Trump said during the press conference. “I didn’t know him well, but I thought he seemed like a nice guy.”
It comes after Trump confused the gender of the Irish president in a scathing St Patrick’s Day attack.
“But when I read his statement, I realized that it’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was. The question is whether or not they wanted to do something about it. And many people, many of the greatest military scholars are saying for years that presidents should have taken out Iran because they wanted a nuclear weapon,” Trump continued.
Kent resigned from the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday, citing concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran, saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war.
“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 said in a statement posted on social media.
Kent’s resignation is the latest indication of a schism within the Republican Party over the war in Iran.
The former director was once a political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists. He was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote. As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he was in charge of an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.
Since the start of the war on Feb. 28, when the U.S. launched joint attacks with Israel on several Iranian cities, the Trump administration has given conflicting messages on the conflict, with President Trump saying that military engagements could last weeks, to then saying that the U.S. has “already won.”
Insiders say the flip-flopping comes amid intra-party Republican fighting, with different members of the administration advocating to Trump for different outcomes.
In one group is White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Vice President JD Vance, who are encouraging the president to limit American troops’ engagement in the Middle East, citing soaring gas prices and voters’ distrust of the war.
Another section of the party, which includes Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, is rooting for him to go on the offensive against Iran, regardless of the fact that the administration boasts of ending eight wars.
The final group is constituted of conservatives like commentator Tucker Carlson, who argue the administration should continue its “America First” campaign slogan and adopt an isolationist strategy and avoid war and conflict entirely.
Other Republicans have also shown their disdain for the war. Most notably, former Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who once proudly wore MAGA hats but had a public fallout with the president last year, warned the White House that if there were to be a military draft for a war in Iran, her son would not serve the U.S.
“Karoline Leavitt doesn’t rule out a draft,” Greene said, reacting to a clip of Leavitt speaking about the possibility of conscription.
“How about the answer is NO DRAFT AND NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND because we campaigned on NO MORE FOREIGN WARS OR REGIME CHANGE!!! Liars every single one of them! Not my son, over my dead body!!!!!”
In another post, the Georgia Republican said: “By the way a bunch of psycho Republicans want to not only draft your sons but your daughters too!!!!!. Send Lindsey Graham, Mark Levin, and Laura Loomer and ALL the murderous blood thirsty maniacs that support this America LAST WAR.”
Upon his arrival to Washington, Martin first met with Vice President JD Vance at his official residence. Vance said St Patrick’s was among his favorite holidays of the year.
“We are thrilled to have you and grateful for your friendship and everything that unites the people of Ireland with the people of the USA,” Vance told the Irish premier.
“There are so many common cultural sensibilities and interests which are being celebrated today,” the vice president, who is Catholic, continued.
Martin’s meeting with Trump comes amid soaring gas prices due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for the passage of a large amount of the world’s oil. As other European countries denounce the U.S. for its joint strikes with Israel in the Middle East, the Taoiseach is reportedly looking for a cordial relationship with Washington, pushing for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict.
Later on Tuesday, Martin will head to Congress for a formal lunch with lawmakers.
