Conspiracy theorist and ex-National Counterterrorism Center boss Joe Kent has been called out for promoting wild Iranian propaganda that suggested the United States was actually trying to kill a downed American airman — just hours before he was dramatically rescued.
Kent, who abruptly resigned from his Trump administration position last month in protest over Iran, got into a war of words with CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday after the former counterterror honcho was called out for peddling the false claims.
He had shared an article from Iranian state media over the weekend that claimed the US was actively bombing the same area where the missing airman was believed to be.
The pro-regime outlet was reporting that the Trump administration had “lost hope” of finding the American soldier and was now trying to kill him before he could be captured by Iranian forces.
Kent shared the post before President Trump revealed hours later that the crewman had finally been rescued in a daring operation behind enemy lines.
Tapper, for his part, was quick to ridicule Kent “nonsense” post — arguing his theory hadn’t aged well.
“Former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent sharing Iranian state-linked outlet nonsense claiming, falsely, that the US was trying to kill the then-lost US pilot,” Tapper posted on X.
“Aged rather poorly, I think it’s fair to say.”
A defensive Kent quickly fired back, accusing Tapper and other media outlets of trying to “promote this foolish war & attack anyone who points out how this war isn’t in our nation’s interest.”
“Read independent media, Iranian media & US media – always question those cheering on wars & always pray for our troops,” he added.
Kent, a former soldier who served 11 combat tours, made headlines last month when he sensationally resigned from the Trump administration, saying he couldn’t in “good conscience” support the 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 claimed at the time.
Trump later insisted he always thought Kent was “weak on security.”
