Vice President JD Vance issued a sharp directive to the federal workforce on Wednesday, declaring that administration officials who cannot support President Donald Trump’s military objectives in Iran have a “moral and professional obligation” to resign.
The Vice President’s remarks, delivered during a manufacturing tour in suburban Detroit, serve as the administration’s definitive response to the high-profile resignation of National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Director Joe Kent. Kent, a decorated combat veteran and staunch “America First” ally, stepped down Monday, alleging the U.S. was “deceived” into a conflict that poses no imminent threat to national security.
‘Fall in Line or Step Aside’
Addressing a crowd of supporters and media, Vance framed the internal dissent not as a matter of healthy debate, but as a barrier to executive efficiency.
“The President has made a decision. Once that decision is made, it is the job of every person in this administration to make it as successful as possible,” Vance said. “If you are on the team and you can’t help implement those decisions, then it is a good thing for you to resign.”
While Vance acknowledged his personal relationship with Kent—noting he “likes” the former director—he aligned himself firmly with President Trump’s assessment that Kent was “weak on security.”
“Nobody likes war,” Vance added, “but we do not want the Iranians to have a nuclear weapon. That is what this is about.”
The Kent Allegations: A ‘Misinformation Campaign’
Kent’s departure on March 17 has sent shockwaves through the intelligence community. In a scathing resignation letter, the former Special Forces warrant officer accused “high-ranking Israeli officials” and “influential members of the American media” of orchestrating a misinformation campaign to push the U.S. into war.
Kent, whose wife Shannon was killed by an ISIS suicide bomber in Syria in 2019, described the current conflict as a “trap” and claimed Iran posed no “imminent threat” prior to the U.S.-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote. “This echo chamber was used to deceive [the President] into believing there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie.”
Escalating Conflict and Economic Fallout
The political firestorm comes as the war enters its third week with significant casualties on both sides. On Tuesday, Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in recent strikes.
Domestically, the administration is grappling with the economic consequences of the conflict. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent Brent crude prices surging, with gas prices at American pumps rising steadily. Vance addressed these concerns in Michigan, labeling the spike a “temporary blip” and hinting at upcoming executive actions to stabilize energy costs within the next 48 hours.
A Divided Base
The rift between Vance and Kent highlights a widening fissure within the Republican Party’s populist wing. While figures like Alan Dershowitz have slammed Kent—calling his resignation “good riddance to bad garbage”—others, including former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, have praised Kent for his “impactful statement.”
Online, the reaction has been equally polarized. Critics of the Vice President pointed to his own past disparagement of Donald Trump, while supporters argued that a wartime administration requires absolute unity to prevent a “long-term quagmire.”
