Early last week, the news cycle was briefly dominated by Trump appointee Joe Clark resigning his post as Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center. He did so, famously now, in protest over Trump's war in Iran. He claimed that contrary to what President Trump claims, Iran does not in fact pose an imminent threat to American national security.
Of course, King Con Don responded in typical fashion, doing what he always does when someone pisses him off. He threw a tantrum and acted like a betrayed, hurt child, instead of responding with the calm demeanor. Believe it or not, once upon a time, responding with calm and measured disagreement would have been the expected response by someone in the Oval Office.
However, all of that has changed in this era of Trump. Now, when the president - when this particular president - throws a temper tantrum that betrays his immaturity and lack of qualifications for the office he presently holds, or when he takes to streaming a whole bunch of mean-spirited posts on social media, we collectively hardly bat an eye.
Just a reminder that, in fact, none of this is normal.
Unfortunately, we have grown so used to all of this bullshit that it now seems like the "new normal," as people often say these days.
So while it does not reveal all that much in the way of Trump's reactions or motivations, it does nevertheless reveal a bit more just how flimsy Trump's case for immediate and urgent war with Iran really was. Of course, most of us could figure that much out based on the inconsistencies the Trump White House used to justify the war. Remember, Trump and Hegseth absolutely insisted that American airstrikes last summer had "completely obliterated" Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Yet now, we were to believe that an attack by Iran on the United States was inevitable, and we were saved in the 11th hour by Trump. Otherwise, we would have been struck in some way or another.
Kent stepped down because he was opposed to the war. Apparently, he could not in good conscience go on in his Trump=appointed post and remain quiet and uncritical. Which, let's say it, is to his credit. Rare among Trump officials.
In fact, as I understand it, Kent is 100% MAGA and has even flirted with white nationalism. So let's hold off for a bit on hailing him as a hero.
I, for one, will not celebrate. What's to celebrate about this whole pathetic, tragic situation, anyway?
Still, it was obviously bad news for Trump and Hegseth, and their case for the war with Iran which, lest we forget, they started. And their justifications for engaging in this war have changed almost by the day. An attack on the United States by Iran was supposedly imminent. They cannot be allowed to be a nuclear power, even though, again, that was supposedly taken care of just months earlier with that first strike. They are a bunch of bad guys and thus Iran is in need of "regime change," much like Iraq a couple of decades or so ago.
Nevertheless, we need to exploit this rare rift within MAGA nation to continue to cast doubts about his rationale for war to begin with.
Apparently, not everything that this man does is acceptable, even to MAGA nation. Another war in the Middle East was evidently something which many members of MAGA actually really wanted to avoid (which still feels like a mild surprise). They sure seem to give King Con Don a pass on just about everything.
Not, however, another war in the Middle East. Not another conflict in that region where we are promised an easy and quick victory, and then see the war just drag on and on.
It's good to know that there are some limits for at least some members of MAGA.
Joe Kent’s Secret If Trump can never be wrong, then he can only be wronged. by Jonathan Chait, March 17, 2026:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/joe-kent-resignation-trump/686428/
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