White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was irritated on Wednesday after a reporter mentioned Joe Kent — the top Trump intelligence official who resigned after claiming President Donald Trump changed his story on the Iran war.
Leavitt was responding to a reporter's question during a White House press briefing and had a sharp reaction to the comments from Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center and close MAGA ally who stepped down last week from his role. Kent has said that Iran "posed no imminent threat to our nation" and that the president acted under "pressure from Israel."
"Joe Kent said that the president's red line shifted from 'Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon' to 'Iran cannot pursue nuclear enrichment.' What is the administration's response to that criticism?" the reporter asked.
Leavitt had a strong response to Kent's comments.
"I think the president and I have both strongly responded to the criticism by Mr. Kent, who unfortunately resigned in disgrace and accused the president of basically being controlled by foreign countries and foreign manipulation, which is a ridiculous and laughable assertion," Leavitt said. "So his accusations have zero credibility as far as this White House is concerned."
The reporter pressed further, "the question of the red line shifting from no nuclear weapon to no nuclear enrichment, is there any substance to that argument?"
Leavitt pushed back on the question.
"I think the president has been quite clear on what he wants to see from the Iranian regime, which is why he chose to launch Operation Epic Fury in the first place," Leavitt said.
Q: Joe Kent said the president's red line shifted from 'Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon' to 'Iran cannot pursue nuclear enrichment.' What is the president's response?
LEAVITT: Mr Kent resigned in disgrace. He has 0 credibility
Q: But the question of the red line shifting?… pic.twitter.com/3mdhr5pKJB
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 25, 2026