Joe Kent breaks with Trump, endorses Lindsey Graham’s primary challenger

WASHINGTON, DC: A growing divide within Republican circles took center stage this week after former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent endorsed South Carolina Senate candidate Mark Lynch, even as President Donald Trump continues to strongly back longtime GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Kent publicly urged South Carolina voters to support Lynch in the upcoming Republican primary, arguing that Graham no longer represents the direction many conservative voters want the party to take.

Joe Kent calls Lindsey Graham a 'war hawk' and urges support for Mark Lynch

In a video message posted on social media on Thursday, June 4, Kent encouraged South Carolina Republicans to rally behind Lynch and remove Graham from office.

South Carolinians who want to "stop sending billions of dollars overseas" and "stop us from getting entangled in endless foreign wars in the Middle East" have an opportunity to "do all of us a great service and vote to get Lindsey Graham out of office this Tuesday, June 9th," Kent said.

The former intelligence official described Lynch as "the America First candidate" and argued that he was best positioned to defeat Graham.

"Vote for Mark Lynch," Kent urged supporters.

He went on to label Graham a "war hawk, neocon" and claimed ynch "is the best postured right now to get the war hawk, neocon, Lindsey Graham out of office."

Kent's endorsement immediately put him at odds with Trump, who has spent months campaigning for Graham's reelection and urging Republican voters to support the South Carolina senator.

Lindsey Graham's campaign responds with Trump's criticism of Joe Kent

Graham's campaign quickly pushed back against Kent's endorsement.

Campaign press secretary Abby Zilch dismissed Kent's support for Lynch by pointing to previous comments Trump made about the former intelligence official.

"Mark Lynch is touting an endorsement from a man that President Trump called a ’sleazebag ‘leaker,’ and a ‘loser,’” Zilch said in a statement.

She also highlighted the long list of prominent Republicans and conservative organizations backing Graham.

"This is to be expected since Lynch wants 'more Massies' in Congress," Zilch added.

According to the campaign, Graham has received endorsements from Trump, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Sen. Tim Scott, several members of Congress, and multiple conservative advocacy groups.

Lynch, however, welcomed Kent's support and praised his service to the country.

"Joe Kent is an honorable man who has dedicated his life to serving this country," Lynch said.

The Senate challenger also referenced the death of Kent's wife, Shannon Kent, a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy who was killed in Syria during a 2019 terrorist attack.

Calling Kent "a patriot," Lynch said he was honored to receive the endorsement and pointed to support from several other conservative figures and organizations.

Trump and Mark Lynch continue to clash over Lindsey Graham

The endorsement battle comes months after Trump publicly attacked Lynch in a Truth Social post.

Back in April, Trump praised Graham's record and harshly criticized his challenger.

"Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a fantastic job," Trump wrote.

He went on to describe Lynch as "a lunatic” and warned that he would be "a disaster for the Republican Party."

Trump also criticized Lynch's support for Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who has frequently clashed with the president.

Earlier this year, Lynch openly embraced lawmakers such as Massie, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

"We need more MTGs and Gaetzes and Massies. Zero question about it," Lynch wrote in a March social media post.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to stand firmly behind Graham.

In a Truth Social message posted Thursday, the president once again urged Republicans to support the incumbent senator.

"This Tuesday, June 9th, all Republicans in South Carolina should vote for Lindsey Graham — HE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT, AND WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!" Trump wrote.

Joe Kent's endorsement follows his departure from government service

Kent's endorsement also comes months after he departed from government.

He resigned from his post in March, citing opposition to the Iran conflict.

In his resignation letter, Kent wrote, "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.

Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."

His resignation drew a sharp response from Trump.

In an April Truth Social post, the president accused Kent of being "a sleazebag” and suggested that some people viewed him as “a leaker.”

Trump also wrote that he did not know whether those accusations were true before ultimately calling Kent "a loser”.