U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns Over Iran Policy; Ceasefire Holds in Middle East

A former U.S. counterterrorism official has resigned citing opposition to the Iran conflict, a ceasefire has taken hold between Israel and Lebanon, and a Democratic candidate has won a special election in a New Jersey district previously held by her party.

Resignation of Counterterrorism Official

Joe Kent resigned from his position as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. In his resignation letter, he stated his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran, arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat and that the conflict was initiated due to pressure from Israel and its American lobby. Kent claimed President Trump had been "deceived" into entering the war.

The administration responded by stating Kent was not involved in Iran planning discussions and characterizing him as a leaker. President Trump was quoted as saying he always thought Kent was "weak on security."

Kent is a special forces veteran and a former congressional candidate. His past public statements have included associations with figures such as Nick Fuentes and promotion of conspiracy theories regarding the January 6th Capitol breach and the Syrian Civil War.

Middle East Ceasefire and Strait Opening

A ceasefire announced between Israel and Lebanon is reported to be holding. Following the announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi stated the Strait of Hormuz is declared open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Vessels are to use a coordinated route announced by Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization.

U.S.-Iran peace talks had previously been reported as affected by the conflict in Lebanon.

Special Election Outcome in New Jersey

Analilia Mejia, a Democratic candidate, won a special election for a U.S. House seat in New Jersey's 11th congressional district by approximately 20 points. The seat became vacant when former Representative Mikie Sherrill was elected governor. In the 2024 presidential election, President Kamala Harris had carried the district by 9 points.

The Republican candidate, Joe Hathaway, presented himself as more moderate than President Trump. At a campaign rally, former Representative Mikie Sherrill stated that Mejia would be an effective check on President Trump. A local reporter noted that some voters could not name the Democratic candidate they voted for.

In the district's Democratic primary, AIPAC and associated PACs spent against the incumbent, Tom Malinowski. Analilia Mejia, who won that primary and the general election, has been described as holding more anti-Israel positions than her predecessor.

Other Political and Foreign Policy Developments

A Quinnipiac poll published this week reported President Donald Trump's national approval at 38% and disapproval at 55%.
During a White House meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, President Trump expressed disappointment that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not support a Middle East war, stating Starmer was "no Winston Churchill."
According to a Politico report, U.S. diplomats in several countries, including Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Indonesia, have sent cables describing a decline in trust toward the U.S. following the war in Iran.
Former General Mark Hertling published a critique arguing that imprecise military language like "boots on the ground" can obscure the human cost of war and mask a lack of coherent strategy.

Congressional Oversight and Administration Meetings

Attorney General Pam Bondi has been subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to testify regarding her handling of the Epstein files. A closed-door briefing with Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is also scheduled.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is scheduled to meet with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. This follows a legal dispute between Anthropic and the U.S. Defense Department. A separate report stated the Trump administration recognizes the capabilities of Anthropic's new AI model, Mythos, regarding cybersecurity.