Joe Kent
ON THE RECORD · 19 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“And I think he has the political power to basically sell it as a win or at least kind of a draw to the American people.”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said Trump has the political capital to frame a withdrawal as a win or draw.
“their time and our money ... and our national will”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said time, money, and national will are expended on foreign wars.
“call their congressmen, call their senators, call the White House and”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent urged supporters to contact their representatives and the White House.
“to partners that actually benefit our nation's security, not to countries that are gonna drag us further into more conflicts”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said foreign aid should go to partners that benefit U.S. national security.
“that a reason why it seems like no matter who they vote for their, their quality of life is not improving,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said he wants Americans to understand why their quality of life isn't improving regardless of who they vote for.
“their civil liberties ... encroached upon,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said Americans' civil liberties are encroached upon as a result of these policies.
“propping up an empire that does not benefit the American people.”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said U.S. resources prop up an empire that does not benefit the American people.
“This war is not in our national security interest,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent argued the war with Iran does not serve U.S. national security interests.
“actually end up costing America more in the long run.”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said aiding countries that drag the U.S. into conflicts costs America more long-term.
“Right now, we're at a place where President Trump could walk away from it. We haven't recently taken any losses,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said Trump could currently withdraw from the conflict without recent battlefield losses.
“that are actively spying on us and running influence operations like the Israelis are.”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said the U.S. should not aid nations that spy on and run influence operations against it, citing Israel.
“This war was prompted by the pressure that the Israelis were able to exert on the Trump administration and the influence that the, the Israelis have over our government.”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent claimed the war was driven by Israeli pressure on the Trump administration.
“have any political aspirations.”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said he has no interest in running for political office again.
“Iran posed no imminent threat,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent reiterated a claim from his resignation letter that Iran posed no imminent threat.
“The Iranians were able to hit them with their ballistic missiles, with their drones. We had to evacuate our bases. We couldn't even fight a war from our military bases. So the fundamental question is, what good is a military base that you can't fight a war from? So really our bases and our presence in the region simply give the Iranians the ability to reach us and strike us whenever they want,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said U.S. bases in the region proved vulnerable to Iranian missile and drone strikes, forcing evacuations.
“that we want out of war right now.”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said people should tell officials they want out of the war immediately.
“making our troops basically tripwires so that if the Iranians hit us, and we lose more troops, then we will have to double down”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent described U.S. troops in the Middle East as vulnerable "tripwires" that could drag the U.S. into escalation with Iran.
“agree that we should be engaged in ... endless foreign wars,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said both political parties agree on continued involvement in foreign wars.
“on these foreign wars,”
Joe Kent · said 2026-08-18 · reported 2026-08-19
Kent said resources are spent on foreign wars rather than benefiting Americans.