Joe Kent’s resignation prompted an outpouring of praise and support, but he was also immediately smeared with baseless accusations. People castigated him as a liar, leaker, and antisemite.
Most of these accusations seem to be from people who have never even met him. We’re expected to take the views of those who speak into a microphone for a living more seriously than a hero who completed 11 deployments overseas.
I worked on both of his congressional campaigns in Washington State in roles as a field operative, communications director, and deputy campaign manager. I started volunteering for his first campaign after I graduated high school in 2021. I’ve listened to him give countless speeches and participate in numerous debates, including on foreign policy.
Ron Paul once noted that “truth is treason in the Empire of Lies,” and the aftermath of Joe’s resignation shows his warning is still relevant.
Pundits are telling Americans not to trust Joe Kent. Instead, you should trust the Central Intelligence Agency, which is apparently a paragon of truth.
For what it’s worth, I saw people on X who respectfully disagreed with Joe’s position and did not resort to attacking his character. There is nothing wrong with opposing his position or even disagreeing with his resignation.
It is the smears against his character that warrant pushback.
In the fog of war, critics of intervention are blasted as un-American and traitors — even men who have served their country honorably.
Joe is capable of defending himself. But as someone who worked on both his congressional campaigns in Washington State, I wanted to share my perspective.
Grassroots campaigns, especially when you’re challenging an incumbent, are no easy task.
Some candidates are also lazy, and frankly, I don’t blame them. Who wants to spend hours making phone calls and knocking on doors?
Probably not Joe, but that didn’t matter. He knocked on doors himself. He worked extremely hard — regardless of whether it was hailing in March or sweltering in August — and I have no doubt he was similarly disciplined in his role as National Counterterrorism Director.
One of the key points of his campaigns was opposition to regime-change wars. He has been consistent in that stance. He fought in these wars and suffered immense losses. That doesn’t mean he’s above critique, but deeming him unpatriotic is absurd.
He’s also a genuinely good person. You will have difficulty finding a more humble individual, especially in politics.
When people cannot engage with the substance of his argument, they resort to personal attacks. This is the nature of politics and the internet. Critics have slandered his wife, Heather, a wonderful person who also served her country.
Some have insinuated that he resigned to pursue fame and a book deal, because taking a principled stand is so rare nowadays that people assume there must be some ulterior motive. (For the record, he already had a book published in 2024 about his late wife, Shannon.)
The hysteria that broke out after his resignation is utterly bizarre. His letter did not even attack President Trump, who nominated him and endorsed his campaign for Congress. It was, however, critical of a foreign government, causing people to lose their minds.
I believe he resigned out of principle. Chiefly, he was concerned for American lives, domestic and abroad. He resigned because of what this war entails for the United States.
You may still be skeptical, and that’s your right. But ask yourself: who has sacrificed more for America?
Joe Kent?
Or the pundits and newscasters assailing him? What about the politicians who hollowed out our country, opened our borders, and pushed for disastrous regime-change wars?
I’d encourage you to watch his appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show, regardless of what you might think of either Joe or Tucker.
And beware of craven opportunists who attack his character. Beware of those who abhorred MAGA until they saw an opportunity to wear its skin and pretend “America First” meant regime-change war all along.
Beware of the neoconservatives in MAGA clothing.
Thank you for reading. Here are a few other pieces I’d recommend checking out:
Are there any voices of restraint left in the Trump admin? Young Voices contributor Jack Verrill details what Joe’s resignation means for Trump’s foreign policy.
DUKE: Iran War’s Biggest Cheerleaders Are Treating Dissent Like Disloyalty
Exactly.
Neocon Chicken Hawks Spread Disgusting Lie To Smear Joe Kent’s Wife
John Loftus is taking down the Empire of Neocon Lies one article at a time.
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