Levin accuses Joe Kent of leaking Trump meeting details, throws down debate challenge

WASHINGTON, DC: Fox News' Mark Levin has accused former director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent of leaking details of a private meeting with President Donald Trump to Tucker Carlson, while also challenging him to a direct, on-air debate on Wednesday, March 18.

Mark Levin also reposted a clip of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticizing information leaks from White House and stressing accountability.

Mark Levin details leak claim against Joe Kent

Laying out his accusation in detail, Levin said, “I know for a fact Kent leaked to Tucker Carlson a meeting the President had with me, at the President’s request, which Carlson in turn used on the internet. No President should be treated like that. Apparently, there were more. Not good. And the appalling antisemitism in Kent’s public letter deserves judgment, which is why so many of all faiths are condemning it.”

In the post responding to Kent’s resignation, Levin added, “I know what my grandfather would say about what Kent wrote in his letter. He was a Marine. He fought on Iwo Jima. He was Jewish. He’d be furious.”

He also invited Kent to appear on his radio show for an hour-long debate, escalating the confrontation beyond social media.

The remarks come as the administration signals a broader crackdown on leaks. Karoline Leavitt, while speaking to Fox News, said “Anyone who has been suspected of leaking or is proven to be a leaker will not be welcome in this administration, there are investigations underway into leakers in this administration, and people will be held accountable for that.”

Tucker Carlson’s posts that ignited the controversy

The dispute traces back to earlier remarks by Carlson, who publicly described Levin’s White House visit and criticized his stance on Iran.

On June 4, 2025, Carlson wrote, “Mark Levin was at the White House today, lobbying for war with Iran. He’s demanding that American troops do it.”

He continued, “Why is Mark Levin once again hyperventilating about weapons of mass destruction? To distract you from the real goal, which is regime change, young Americans heading back to the Middle East to topple yet another government. Virtually no one will say this out loud. America’s record of overthrowing foreign leaders is so embarrassingly counterproductive that regime change has become a synonym for disaster.”

Warning of consequences, Carlson added, “The first week of a war with Iran could easily kill thousands of Americans. It could also collapse our economy, as surging oil prices trigger unmanageable inflation. Consider the effects of $30 gasoline.”

He concluded, “The one thing that people like Mark Levin don’t want is a peaceful solution to the problem of Iran, despite the obvious benefits to the United States. They’ll say or do whatever it takes. They have no limits. These are scary people. Pray that Donald Trump ignores them.”

Kent resigns, cites principle in opposing Iran war

Kent’s resignation, which came on Tuesday, March 17, forms the backdrop of the controversy, with his departure tied directly to disagreements over the administration’s Iran strategy.

In his letter that he also posted on X, Kent wrote “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.”

He framed his exit as a matter of principle, saying his conscience would not allow him to support the policy's direction.