Who’s the Boss?

Peloni:  In the article linked below, Lee Smith reports that Joe Kent left his intelligence in the Trump administration amid internal disagreements within the Trump administration over policy toward Iran. It describes concerns raised about his conduct, including references to an FBI investigation into alleged unauthorized disclosures of information.

It also discusses statements Kent has made criticizing U.S. policy and referencing Israel’s influence, presenting these as part of broader internal tensions.  Notably, Kent was a known critic of Trump’s when he was appointed to his role as DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s deputy.  From here Smith turns his attention to DNI Gabbard, noting her position within the administration and her views on the Iran conflict which had historically been contrary to that of Trump.  From here Smith next raises questions about Gabbard’s handling of internal issues related to leaks.

The article concludes by describing an ongoing shift within the administration as it aligns around Trump’s Iran policy, suggesting that officials associated with dissenting views may face removal, including Gabbard.  Importantly, Gabbard was never a good fit for a position as DNI which would place her in a role which would certainly be expected to be critical to dealing with Trump’s Iran’s position.  Notably, prior to her confirmation, I raised the question of Why is Tulsi Gabbard’s Judgement So Bad, but there were other voices relating concerns about her appointment.

Lee Smith | Tablet | Mar 23, 2026

Click Link to Read Article

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/joe-kent-out-tulsi-gabbard-next