If irony had a face: America just put a Jan. 6 apologist in charge to, like, protect us from extremists

Joe Kent, a former Green Beret and failed Republican House candidate, has been confirmed as the new director of the National Counterterrorism Center. The Senate voted 52-44 to approve his nomination on Wednesday night, with four Democrats absent from the vote.

According to MSNBC, the confirmation comes despite Kent’s controversial background and connections to far-right extremist groups, part of the broader effort to rewrite the narrative of January 6. During his political campaigns in Washington state, Kent was known for his associations with white nationalists and his embrace of various conspiracy theories.

Kent has previously defended January 6 rioters, referring to them as ‘political prisoners,’ despite the documented violence of the January 6 attack.” He has also maintained that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged and stolen” and has expressed strong criticism of the FBI, an agency he will now work closely with, calling it “corrupt” and saying it needs to be brought “to heel.”

Concerns rise over politicization of intelligence under new leadership

Before his confirmation, Kent served as acting chief of staff to National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. During this time, he faced accusations of attempting to politicize intelligence by allegedly ordering analysts to rewrite intelligence assessments to align with White House objectives.

The National Counterterrorism Center, which Kent will now lead, plays a crucial role in coordinating America’s anti-terrorism strategy. The center works as a partnership between various organizations, including the CIA, FBI, and Defense Department, and maintains a national database of known and suspected terrorists.

Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina was the only Republican to vote against Kent’s nomination. The confirmation follows a pattern of the Trump administration appointing failed Republican candidates to key positions, leading some observers to call it a “Team of Losers.”

Kent’s political career includes two unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. House in Washington state in 2022 and 2024. In his 2022 campaign, he lost to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in what was considered a conservative district, with his extreme positions likely contributing to his defeat. The Associated Press reported during that campaign that Kent had hired a campaign consultant who was a member of the Proud Boys, adding to concerns about his connections to right-wing extremist groups.