Former counterterrorism official Joe Kent sparred with conservative radio host and Fox News personality Mark Levin on his syndicated radio show Monday, denying leak allegations, breaking with the Trump administration over Iran, and saying Israel «forced President Trump into this war.» 

«I never leaked any classified information,» Kent said, as Levin pressed him on reports he was under investigation by the FBI for leaking. 

Three sources familiar with the matter have told Fox News the FBI probe into Kent predated his resignation. 

Kent also disputed the administration’s case for the conflict with Iran, saying «there was no imminent threat coming from Iran against Americans.»

Kent resigned March 17 as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), issuing a public letter claiming the U.S. entered the conflict due to «pressure from Israel,» a position he has since defended in multiple media appearances.

Kent maintained that U.S. intelligence did not support the administration’s justification for military action in Iran, asserting «we had no intelligence that said that Iran was working to develop a nuclear weapon,» a claim that runs counter to assessments publicly cited by top administration officials.

Kent’s resignation makes him the highest-ranking figure in the Trump administration to step down over the Iran war, a rare instance of open dissent from a senior national security official. His assertions put him at odds with top intelligence and defense officials who have said Iran posed an immediate threat.

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«Joe Kent’s self-aggrandizing resignation letter and recent comments are riddled with lies. Most egregious are Kent’s false claims that the largest state sponsor of terrorism somehow did not pose a threat to the United States and that Israel forced the President into launching Operation Epic Fury,» White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Fox News Digital. «As Commander-in-Chief, President Trump took decisive action based on strong evidence which showed that the terrorist Iranian regime posed an imminent threat and was preparing to strike Americans first.»

Levin, a staunch advocate of the U.S. alliance with Israel and host of weekend program «Life, Liberty and Levin» on Fox, repeatedly challenged Kent’s claims throughout the roughly 22-minute interview, turning what began as a policy discussion into a pointed back-and-forth over intelligence, Israel and Trump’s decision-making. 

Levin rejected Kent’s assertion that Israel drove the U.S. into war, calling it «conspiratorial» and pushing back on the idea that a foreign government could dictate American military action.

«Why do you create a conspiratorial notion that Israel dragged the powerful Donald Trump into war?» Levin asked on his radio show, «The Mark Levin Show.» «Do you have no respect for Donald Trump’s agency that he has the capacity to make these decisions himself?»

Kent responded, «I believe that he was influenced by a media echo chamber and by the Israelis.»

Kent also argued that «the Israelis forced President Trump into this war,» a claim Levin repeatedly pushed back on during the exchange. 

Kent elsewhere described the decision as influenced by Israeli pressure.

Kent maintained that «there was no intelligence that said that Iran was working to develop a nuclear weapon.»

As director of the NCTC, Kent would have had access to high-level intelligence assessments, including threat reporting and interagency analysis used to brief senior policymakers. Administration officials have told Fox News he was not included in discussions surrounding the Iran conflict known as Operation Epic Fury. 

Levin countered, saying, «The president agrees with his own conclusions. The CIA director says you’re wrong.»

Asked Wednesday during a Senate hearing if he disagreed with Kent’s assessment that Iran did not pose an imminent threat, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said he did. 

«I think Iran has been a constant threat to the United States for an extended period of time and posed an immediate threat at this time,» Ratcliffe said. 

Levin also questioned Kent’s credibility, telling him, «I hope when you tell me you haven’t leaked that you are telling me the truth.»

Kent also indicated that efforts to investigate potential foreign links to the killing of Charlie Kirk and the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, were not fully carried out.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth greets one of Joe Kent’s sons. The former National Counterterrorism Director is a father of two and a Gold Star spouse. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery)

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«What I know is that there were foreign leads that we didn’t get a chance to look into. From my vantage point at the National Counterterrorism Center, that was not thoroughly looked into,» Kent said, referring to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In other interviews, Kent has pointed to social media posts made before the attack and suggested authorities should examine whether any individuals had prior knowledge or made threats ahead of the violence.

Levin pressed Kent on whether he was suggesting a specific country, including Israel, may have been involved, but Kent stopped short of naming any nation, saying only that potential foreign links should be investigated.

On Thomas Matthew Crooks and the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Kent said: «We should investigate to see if there’s any linkage, particularly between Iran and the Iranian agent who was convicted for plotting an assassination attempt against President Trump.»

«I never leaked any classified information,» Kent said, as Levin pressed him on reports he was under investigation by the FBI for leaking (Fox News)

Kent pointed to the case of Asif Merchant, a man convicted in federal court for attempting to orchestrate a political assassination plot tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

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Endorsed by Trump in two unsuccessful congressional campaigns, Kent rose to MAGA stardom in large part on opposition to «endless wars» after the death of his wife Shannon Kent in a suicide bombing in Syria in 2019.

Kent could not be reached for comment. 

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of National Intelligence, has not publicly weighed in on Kent’s claims and largely has deferred to the president’s assessment of the Iran threat in recent public appearances. It’s not clear who has taken on Kent’s duties as director of the NCTC. 

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Israeli embassy could not immediately be reached for comment. 

El extenso complejo militar situado en el corazón de Buenos Aires, donde miles de personas fueron torturadas y desaparecidas durante la dictadura militar argentina hace medio siglo, se ha convertido en un memorial, un monumento al compromiso del país con la verdad y la justicia.

Pero los profundos recortes en el presupuesto federal realizados por el presidente Javier Milei tras su toma de posesión hace tres años han perjudicado al monumento, dicen los trabajadores.

El museo del lugar cierra tres días a la semana. Se ha despedido a muchos miembros del personal. Los proyectores que antes mostraban en las paredes los rostros de los generales de la Junta están rotos y nadie los ha reparado. El centro cultural del yacimiento está cerrado.

Carlos Muñoz, activista político durante la dictadura, expresó su enojo mientras recorría las salas donde estuvo detenido y fue torturado. Dijo también que es difícil superar la depresión y el sentimiento de derrota.

El martes, el país conmemora el 50 aniversario de un golpe militar que dio paso a una brutal dictadura de siete años que secuestró, torturó y asesinó a decenas de miles de personas.

Pero en lugar de ser un momento de homenaje colectivo, el aniversario ha quedado atrapado en una lucha partidista.

Leé también: 50 años del golpe: artistas y periodistas recuerdan el 24 de marzo de 1976, el día más oscuro de la argentina

Mientras los familiares siguen buscando los cuerpos de los desaparecidos y de al menos 300 niños que los militares les robaron y entregaron a otros para que los criaran, chocan con un gobierno que está quitando financiamiento a los grupos que llevan a cabo las búsquedas y promueve un relato revisionista de la dictadura.

El gobierno de Milei y sus aliados sostienen que durante décadas la izquierda ha distorsionado la historia de la dictadura, haciendo demasiado hincapié en los crímenes de Estado e ignorando la violencia de los grupos guerrilleros políticos de izquierda.

La oficina del presidente no respondió a una solicitud de comentarios. En campaña, Milei describió los crímenes de la dictadura militar como “excesos” en medio de una guerra.

El gobierno de Milei redujo el papel de la Subsecretaría de Derechos Humanos y recortó su financiación. El gobierno también dejó de financiar a varios grupos de derechos, entre ellos el más destacado, las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, fundado por familiares de desaparecidos.

Grupos y sobrevivientes dicen que el gobierno está socavando los cimientos de la democracia moderna de Argentina, lo que amenaza un pacto social erigido sobre la verdad, la memoria y los derechos humanos.

Manuel Gonçalves Granada, cuyo padre fue desaparecido y cuya madre fue asesinada por la Junta Militar, consideró que las acciones del gobierno son un insulto a la construcción más luminosa que supo hacer el país de lo más oscuro y siniestro que padecieron.

Leé también: Del “Nunca Más” a las 361 sentencias: hitos, retrocesos y reapertura de las causas por la dictadura

La semana pasada, expertos en derechos humanos de las Naciones Unidas expresaron su “profunda preocupación” por las “medidas regresivas adoptadas en Argentina, que amenazan con socavar cuatro décadas de avances ejemplares en materia de memoria, verdad y justicia”.

Los militares argentinos tomaron el poder en un golpe de Estado en 1976, aparentemente para poner fin a una espiral de violencia entre guerrilleros políticos de izquierda –que se dedicaban a cometer atentados y secuestros– y escuadrones de la muerte respaldados por el gobierno.

Los métodos de la dictadura evolucionaron rápidamente hacia un terrorismo de Estado sistemático. Los militares abrieron cientos de campos de concentración secretos en todo el país, donde se torturaba y asesinaba a personas, incluidos activistas políticos, estudiantes, profesores y trabajadores sindicales.

Las mujeres daban a luz en cautiverio y sus bebés les eran arrebatados y a menudo criados por los generales que supervisaban la represión.

Veinte años después del retorno del país a la democracia en 1983, a principios de la década de 2000, un gobierno de izquierda juzgó a los responsables de la dictadura y condenó a más de 1000 a prisión. Pidió perdón a las víctimas en nombre del Estado e incorporó el recuerdo en la política estatal.

Las madres de los desaparecidos, que en 1977 habían empezado a protestar en la Plaza de Mayo de Buenos Aires exigiendo respuestas a la Junta, se convirtieron en iconos internacionales de los derechos humanos.

Leé también: Tienen entre 18 y 20 años, nacieron en democracia y responden: ¿Qué sabés del Golpe de Estado de 1976?

Dado que la represión de la dictadura fue clandestina y que muchas personas fueron arrojadas vivas desde helicópteros a un río argentino, el Río de la Plata, o enterradas en fosas comunes secretas, se desconoce el número exacto de víctimas. Grupos de derechos humanos sitúan la cifra en 30.000.

Milei ha defendido una cifra mucho menor, de 9000, a partir de un informe de 1984 de una comisión gubernamental que, según las organizaciones de derechos humanos, solo era preliminar.

Cuando se presentaba a las elecciones presidenciales, Milei atacó la “estafa de los derechos humanos” y acusó a una dirigente de Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo de ser “totalitaria”.

Tras convertirse en presidente, Milei despidió a casi la mitad del personal de un organismo gubernamental creado para ayudar a encontrar a los niños sustraídos a los desaparecidos, recortó gran parte del presupuesto destinado al memorial del complejo militar y redujo la participación del gobierno en los juicios de los acusados implicados en la dictadura.

Aunque muchas de estas políticas entran dentro de los recortes presupuestarios generales, el gobierno federal también ha dejado de trabajar con las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, dijeron miembros de la asociación, y está promoviendo un discurso revisionista que hace hincapié en los crímenes de la guerrilla.

La vicepresidenta, Victoria Villarruel, sobrina de un coronel militar que formó parte de la dictadura, ha declarado que las sentencias contra militares son “injustas”.

En 2024, un grupo de legisladores del partido de Milei visitó a militares encarcelados por crímenes contra la humanidad y posaron juntos para una foto. Tras enfrentarse a una reacción violenta, algunos legisladores dijeron que habían sido engañados para realizar la visita, mientras que otro la calificó de gesto humanitario.

Leé también: A 50 años del Golpe, se agotan las “verdades selladas” del kirchnerismo y tampoco prende la versión de Milei

Durante los dos últimos aniversarios del golpe, el gobierno ha publicado un video en el que cuestiona el número oficial de muertos y califica la represión estatal de guerra.

“No decimos que la dictadura fuera buena. No decimos que no hubo violaciones de los derechos humanos, ni negamos los desaparecidos”, dijo Agustín Laje, intelectual argentino que aparece en el video. “Decimos que, del otro lado, la izquierda también cometió violaciones de los derechos humanos”.

Laje recientemente estuvo en un festival de derecha en el que Milei habló. Otro orador, Nicolás Marquez, un experto de extrema derecha, apuntó contra las madres de la Plaza de Mayo. “Celebramos que las madres de los terroristas se hayan quedado sin financiación”, dijo. “Se acabó su estafa a la memoria”.

Aunque muchos sobrevivientes de la dictadura dicen estar seguros de que la mayoría de los argentinos no abrazan una reinterpretación de aquella época traumática, algunos dijeron temer la promoción de un relato alternativo en el discurso oficial del Estado.

Claudia Poblete Hlaczik, de 48 años, que fue criada con otro nombre por un general militar tras el secuestro de sus padres, dijo que, hasta los 21 años, el relato de su hogar describía a las madres de Plaza de Mayo como mujeres “locas” que “buscaban venganza” y a los desaparecidos como terroristas.

Dijo que el discurso con el que fue educada, es muy similar al que mantiene actualmente el gobierno. Esa retórica, añadió, le impidió buscar su verdadera identidad a pesar de tener dudas sobre la avanzada edad de la pareja que se hacía pasar por sus padres. Ahora le preocupan otros como ella.

Leé también: El hijo de Julio López a 50 años del Golpe: “Callar a mi padre era que muchos genocidas no fueran condenados”

Dijo que, en caso de que se desmantelen las políticas de la búsqueda de la verdad, además de que el discurso público niega la realidad, no queda claro qué pueden hacer quienes tienen dudas.

A pesar de haber perdido la financiación pública, las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo recaudan dinero y siguen encontrando a los hijos de los desaparecidos nacidos en cautiverio, ahora hombres y mujeres adultos.

Este mes, un equipo forense argentino recuperó los restos de 12 víctimas de la dictadura, enterradas en fosas comunes en la ciudad de Córdoba. Los juicios contra los perpetradores, interpuestos por sobrevivientes, familiares de las víctimas y otras personas, siguen su curso.

Sin embargo, quienes buscan la verdad sobre lo ocurrido durante la dictadura, un esfuerzo apoyado durante mucho tiempo por gobiernos de izquierda, ahora no consideran al Estado como un aliado, sino como un obstáculo.

Desde hace casi 50 años, las Madres de Plaza de Mayo se reúnen todos los jueves en la plaza exigiendo noticias de sus hijos aún desaparecidos. Hace poco cantaron “Milei, basura” mientras marchaban.

Pina de Fiore, de 94 años, cuyo hijo, Enzo Fiore, obrero de la fábrica Peugeot, fue detenido y desaparecido en 1977, estaba sentada en una silla de ruedas. Ha asistido a estas marchas durante más de cuatro décadas, llevando el característico pañuelo blanco de las Madres.

Dijo que aún no han encontrado a su hijo y el gobierno no está ayudando.

Emma Bubola es reportera del Times que cubre Argentina desde Buenos Aires.

FIRST ON FOX: The United States is advancing a sweeping hemispheric security strategy aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and countering the growing footprint of geopolitical rivals across Latin America, according to Joseph M. Humire, acting assistant secretary of War for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs.

At the center of this effort is the «Shield of the Americas,» a multi-layered initiative designed to integrate military, intelligence, and law enforcement capabilities across partner nations in the Western Hemisphere.

«Shield of the Americas is a presidential framing to form an alliance in the Western Hemisphere. The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition fits within it, but it’s not exclusive to it. We now have 18 members in the coalition. And in the Shield, there are 13 countries,» Humire said.

CARTELS FEAR US RETALIATION AS TRUMP-ERA PRESSURE RESHAPES STRATEGY: ‘THEY FEAR THE UNITED STATES’

«The proclamation that President Trump signed on March 7, was centered around the coalition, and the coalition is centered around having partner nations in Latin America start looking at partner-led, deterrence-focused operations against cartel infrastructure and targets inside their sovereign territory, both on land and in the maritime territory.»

Humire said, «In the past, we would provide training, capacity building and a bunch of different things to our partners so that they could go after the cartels. What is different in this administration is we are now accompanying our partners to go after the shared threats. In some cases, we’ve already gotten permission to do that, like in Ecuador, where we have permission from President Daniel Noboa to not just advise and assist his military as they engage in counter-narcotic terrorist operations, but also accompany his military forces when they engage in those operations.»

A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho.» (AP Photo/Armando Solis)

Humire says, «The second difference to previous administrations is that we are leaning in on deterrence-focused operations, which means we are encouraging our partners to use hard power to send a signal to the cartels to complement interdiction. We are still seizing narcotics. We’re still arresting major cartel members. We are also now destroying cartel infrastructure and, in some cases, taking out cartel members. That’s something that is new.»

Mexico

«Mexico is not a member of the coalition. We are encouraged by Mexico’s recent operation against El Mencho. That was an offensive operation against a high-value individual tied to a major cartel. We look forward to Mexico becoming a member in the future. Our relationship with Mexico is very strong military-wise. We have done a lot of training and capacity building with Mexico. But as of today, we still don’t have U.S. forces accompanying Mexico inside the sovereign territory of the country,» he said.

«Mexico, like many countries, saw what happened in Venezuela and now understand that there’s a partner of preference inside the Western Hemisphere and in the world, which is the United States, not China, Russia or Iran.»

Pentagon actions under this framework include the deployment of additional surveillance assets, enhanced maritime patrol operations, and the integration of cyber capabilities to track and disrupt illicit networks. It has also prioritized capacity-building efforts to strengthen partner nations’ ability to sustain long-term counter-cartel operations.

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President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hold their countries’ cards during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Dec. 5, 2025. (Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool/AP Photo)

Humire continued, «This is a historic effort to put the Western Hemisphere as a top regional priority for U.S. national security in ways we have never done before. President Trump has made a monumental shift in U.S. foreign policy and national security.»

Beyond cartel activity, the initiative reflects growing concern over the influence of China, Russia and Iran in the region.

Expanding Chinese infrastructure investments with dual-use potential, Iranian-linked networks tied to illicit finance and proxy activities and Russian disinformation campaigns are key threats to regional stability.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Center-R) meets with Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano (Center-L) at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 15, 2025 as Paraguay’s Minister of Defense General Óscar Luís González Cañete (L) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Americas Security Affairs Joseph Humire (R) look on. (Jim Watson/ AFP via Getty Images)

To counter these efforts, the Pentagon has increased intelligence cooperation with allied governments, expanded joint cybersecurity initiatives, and supported efforts to secure critical infrastructure from foreign control or exploitation. Military-to-military engagements have also been scaled up to reinforce alignment with U.S. strategic priorities.

Panama

«Since Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio went to Panama last year, China has had significantly less influence inside that country. They lost access to the ports and are no longer advancing their investments,» Humire said.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Panama Canal Authority Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez and Commander of the U.S. Southern Command Adm. Alvin Holsey pose during a tour of the Miraflores Locks, in Panama City, Panama, April 8, 2025. (Aris Martinez/Reuters)

«China also had a lot of influence over the Panamanian government. That influence is no more. Panama has withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so. From the Department of War, we have partnered with Panama to build up an enduring presence on the Panama Canal which includes a jungle operations school on the Atlantic side, and a joint security operation group on the Pacific side. This is all to advance security of the Panama Canal.»

KAROLINE LEAVITT WARNS CARTELS TO ‘NOT LAY A FINGER’ ON AMERICANS OR PAY ‘SEVERE CONSEQUENCES’

Venezuela

Humire continued, «The stabilization efforts in Venezuela are going well. Despite Maduro’s very close relationship with Iran, China and Russia, this was not enough to defend him. In the aftermath of Operation Absolute Resolve, we have seen tension among these different external actors, because while they had levels of cooperation, they don’t have the same exact interests.»

Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appear with their attorneys Barry Pollack and Mark Donnelly at their arraignment in a federal court in New York City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (Jane Rosenberg)

«This is evidenced by the fact that before, during and after Operation Absolute Resolve, neither Russia, China, or Iran, or even Cuba for that matter, were able to do anything to keep Nicolas Maduro in power. They might have sent some equipment and armament, but that didn’t defend Maduro from that operation, and the Cuban security that was with him wasn’t able to defend him. Russia, China, Iran or Cuba could not stop a very successful U.S. military action in support of U.S. law enforcement.»

«The message to all the countries in Latin America, and frankly the world, is that they need to think twice when they partner with Russia, China or Iran because that partnership does not produce results,» Humire said.

Cuba

As part of its broader hemispheric strategy, the administration is also recalibrating its policy toward Cuba, viewing the island as a persistent security concern due to its ties with U.S. adversaries.

Protesters gather outside a Communist Party headquarters in Morón, Cuba, as a fire burns in the street during overnight unrest. Video obtained by Fox News Digital appeared to show demonstrators attempting to set fire to the building amid protests linked to widespread blackouts. (Reuters)

«The White House is leading conversations with Cuba in the aftermath of Venezuela. Cuba was reliant on subsidized oil from Venezuela, in exchange for security services. But those security services didn’t do much for Venezuela when it mattered, so I believe there is a bit of a friction between the Cuban and Venezuelan governments,» he said.

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«The Western Hemisphere is our neighborhood; it is intricately tied to U.S. homeland defense. Hemispheric defense is and always has been a key part of U.S. homeland defense. Acknowledging this is why the Western Hemisphere is now a top priority for the Trump administration and especially for the Department of War, as reflected by official policy in the 2025 National Security Strategy and 2026 National Defense Strategy,» Humire told Fox News Digital.