Bolton: Gabbard should join Joe Kent in resigning from Trump administration

Former national security adviser John Bolton on Wednesday applauded the resignation of Joe Kent, one of the nation’s top counterterrorism officials, who stepped down in opposition of the ongoing U.S. military operation in Iran.

Bolton then suggested that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard should follow her former top aide’s lead.

“I’m glad he resigned. I hope Tulsi Gabbard resigns soon afterward. If you don’t believe in the administration’s policy, you should resign,” he said during an appearance on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe.”

“There is division within the top ranks of the administration. This is proof of it,” he continued, highlighting the internal GOP rift that was exposed by Kent’s exit.

Kent became the first senior Trump administration official to voluntarily leave his post in objection to the Middle East conflict, saying he could not “in good conscience” support the military operation.

In a letter explaining his decision, the now-former head of the National Counterterrorism Center claimed Iran posed “no imminent threat,” arguing that Israel pressured the U.S. into joining the initial strikes last month.

The White House quickly dismissed his framing as “insulting and laughable” on Tuesday.

Gabbard, in a statement of her own, said President Trump had acted on the conclusion that the Iranian regime posed a real threat. She did not indicate whether she agreed with the actions.

“As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country,” Gabbard wrote in a post on the social platform X Tuesday afternoon.

Trump administration officials have justified the strikes against Tehran by claiming the country was on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon, despite skepticism from some experts and lawmakers.

Bolton, who served during Trump’s first term, disagreed on Wednesday with the administration’s threat assessment but maintained that military action was an appropriate course of action.

“In terms of the imminence argument, I didn’t think from what I know or understand, I don’t think Iran was within weeks of getting a nuclear weapon,” he said. “If they’ve got information, let’s see it.”

“But I don’t think you need imminence to justify this act of self-defense that we’re engaged in now,” Bolton added.

His comments came hours before Gabbard appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee for a hearing on worldwide threats.

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