"Israel Is Buying Our Elections” — My Exclusive Interview With Ex-Intel Chief Joe Kent

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:03]It's pretty obvious when we have people who even though they may be Americans are prioritizing the agenda of a foreign government um over the the needs of their their own government. That that's just a major problem. Right now we are witnessing what is arguably the most critical and defining primary election or maybe any election in modern American history. In Kucky's fourth congressional district, Representative Thomas Massie is fighting for his political survival in what has officially become the most expensive House primary race in US history. Why? Because Thomas Massie has done the unthinkable in modern Washington, which is to represent his constituents. He ran on opposing foreign wars, and he meant it. This administration can't even give us a straight answer as to why we launched this preemptive war.

[00:00:56]>> He exposed the depths of Israeli influence in the halls of Congress.

[00:01:00]>> Everybody but me has an Apac person.

[00:01:02]Like, >> what's that mean? An Apac person.

[00:01:04]>> It's like your babysitter. Your Apac babysitter. And spearheaded the release of the Epstein files.

[00:01:10]>> This is not a hoax. This is real. There are real survivors. There are real victims to this criminal enterprise. As a result, the Israel lobby has poured up to $30 million, maybe more than that, into a single safe Republican district to make an example out of him. So, make no mistake, this election is a fundamental stress test of American sovereignty. Specifically, can the most popular sitting American lawmaker survive the concentrated financial wrath of a foreign interest group or can any congressional seat essentially be bought by billionaire donors who prioritize the interests of a foreign nation over our own? to help us better understand the mechanics of this institutional pressure. Joining us today is a very special guest, Joe Kent. He is a special forces combat veteran who up until very recently served as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center in the Trump administration, publicly resigning in opposition to the ongoing war in Iran. A conflict, he stated flat out was manufactured not out of an eminent threat to the American people, but due to intense pressure from Israel and its powerful lobbying apparatus. Well, thank you so much for being on the show today, Joe. Really nice to meet you and uh I'm out here in Kentucky right now and you know, it seems like you know, I've been trying to talk to a lot of people on the ground here. I I I spoke to Massie last night. We had a long chat and you know he was telling me that you know I think it's being reported right now maybe $10 million but he said or $15 million and he said could could be up to when the the the cards are all counted up to $30 million that this house race is going to cost. It's the most expensive house race in US history. I think it's most expensive primary race in US history.

[00:03:01]And 95% of that money is coming from foreign lobby. So specifically the Israeli lobby. So for you as the former director of counter intelligence, do you see this as a potential foreign intelligence risk at all? I think let's let's start here, you know, in terms of where, you know, your expertise is at.

[00:03:20]>> I mean, foreign influence for sure. It it's pretty obvious when we have people who, even though they may be Americans, are prioritizing the agenda of a foreign government um over the the needs of their their own government. That that's just a major problem. Um and that's something I think we need to address. I support Massiey's push to label Apac as a to have them register with FAR. Um but yeah, this is this is a major issue and I think it just speaks to um one of the big flaws of our political system, how money can be flooded into the system and if we don't have a diligent citizenry, they they will get away with it. That's that's a big reason why I think this race is so important.

[00:03:55]>> Well, it's interesting that you say that because I think a lot of people are. I mean, at least my audience is I think very smart. They're tuned to the issues, right? They've they've been through this circus more than one time, right? Some guy promises in the world and then all of a sudden we're in another war in Iran or or in the Middle East, Libya, Syria, Iraq, whatever you name it. And they're like, "We voted these guys, you know, like some guy like Cash Patel going in there, right? He's like, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do that." All of a sudden, wow, totally different Cash Patel in there. So then you're on the inside. So I'm just curious like what's going on in there, right? A lot of, you know, conspiracy theories or whatever it is, like people are like, is he compromised? Like is is it a honeypot operation that's going on in there? Like what do you see like what makes people like a Cash Patel shift from you know what he said prior to going in and what he is doing right now and that goes all the way up obviously to the leadership you know of Donald Trump like what's going on in there? Is there you know is it as scandalous as as some people like you know myself my audience think it is or or what do you you know can you tell us like what do you see in there?

[00:04:57]>> I think some of it could be. I mean, just what we've been able to see, especially of how we were forced into this war uh with Iran. I mean, this is what I covered in my resignation letter and I've been speaking about quite a bit. the the amount of influence the Israeli lobby has, the way they are able to get access to President Trump through, you know, official engagements with with Israeli officials kind of bypass the intelligence system, but then at the same time, they have the the influence network of, you know, Fox News, the Washington Post, the Foundation for the Defense, defense of democracies, these think tanks that were able to really influence President Trump more than even his own intelligence community uh was able to. That's a major issue and a lot of that goes back to Apac that goes back to the Miriam Adlesins that just goes back to that influence.

[00:05:37]>> What makes Yeah, that's the question.

[00:05:38]It's like what makes Trump trust the Israeli intelligence more than the American intelligence?

[00:05:44]>> Well, the the American intelligence community unfortunately hasn't done themselves a lot of favors, especially President Trump over the years. They they have in the past given President Trump every reason to say like I don't trust you because the Russia gate scandal etc. So that when we come to them and someone like me who spent a lot of time on the inside of the IC and I'm saying like no actually what they're saying about Iran this this is accurate.

[00:06:04]I kind of understand that he was like okay I'm I'm going to listen to these other outside influencers more. But what the Israelis do a good job of it's it's never just one thing. It's never just their access and they play a long game.

[00:06:17]They the the Israelis have done a good job of giving us a lot of good intelligence so that we become reliant on them in the Middle East. And that allows them then to slip in not necessarily the intelligence, but that lets them slip in influence operations into the intelligence. They can kind of drive American policy. But then they have the whole Israel lobby and they have the media apparatus and they all work kind of in unison but from different angles to surround the president and what myself and others have described as an echo chamber around him. So basically what he's hearing on an official engagement it will be repeated again by Mark Levven and so he's hearing this kind of constantly and and that's the way the Israelis have really been able to to kind of shortcircuit a lot of our systems and to get into it. Now unfortunately with um you know Cash Patella and some other folks and maybe there's more to the story but just from my observation the you know air quotes deep state or the permanent bureaucracy when someone comes in and and they're going they say they're going to reform the system the system does a very good job of kind of playing to their ego and saying like oh you know you're you're the most important guy that we have here and then keeping them very very busy with pomp and circumstance um and not allowing them to actually execute the things that they came in to do. and they play to their ego. They say, "Hey, you have this private plane. You know, you've got 15 different assistants and we've mapped out your schedule, you know, in five minute increments, and the next thing you know, you're being handled by the bureaucracy." That takes place a lot with the FBI and the CIA, like the CIA, they're they're professionals. This is what they do. This is how they roll. And so unless you go in there day one like a fool in the China shop that knows that your job is to go in there and to really hold these agencies accountable and you kind of know how the agencies work and you know what their bread and butter is, then you're going to kind of fall victim to that. And I think a lot of that has happened in this administration. We have people who got more comfortable with their title and the pomp and circumstance than than they did with what was pro making implementing the reforms that were promised on the campaign trail. Yeah, I think that's interesting that you say that because I think, you know, people online, you know, we're out here kind of in the dark, right? People are like, "What's going on?" You know, a lot of times, you know, the explanation is like sort of more of the benality of evil, right?

[00:08:24]You're just in this bureaucracy. You can't do anything about it. It's not always, you know, an Alexis Wilkins type of figure who, you know, that that's more of a fun story that we see online.

[00:08:31]Maybe it's true, maybe it's not true.

[00:08:33]But I think a lot of voters, you know, just tying this back to Massie before we we we finish up here. I think a lot of voters are on the ground or I think kind of at their wits end. That's kind of what I sense when I speak to them, right? It's like if if 25 $30 million of foreign money can override, you know, arguably one of the best representatives, I guess, for his constituents, you know, where are we at?

[00:08:53]So, like what do you think if Massie, you know, were to lose this race on Tuesday? Where does where do the American people go from here?

[00:09:02]>> That's actually my my biggest concern.

[00:09:04]Obviously, I want Massie to win because he's the he's the best representative, one of the best representatives that we have right now. uh he deserves to win.

[00:09:10]Uh but if he does lose, it's it's going to it's going to disenfranchise a lot of the younger voters. And a lot of the younger voters, and I I know you talked to them, and I talked to them, too, they're highly informed. They're very much America first. They want to do the right things for the country. However, they got burned really badly in this last election uh with with what President Trump promised versus what he delivered. And now if the big money in the special interests are able basically to kind of stomp out Massie, I think an effect that we're going to have is a lot of people are going to be like, you know what, I I got other stuff to do. I don't want to hear it. I don't really care about politics anymore. And they're going to check out. And that's how the establishment on the left and the right takes over. And then it's like really no matter who we get, we get a war if I ran. Like that's kind of the the bill of goods that we've been sold here. Um so that's that's probably my biggest concern. I I'm I'm cautiously optimistic. I think there's enough young, fired up people there in that district. And that district has really, I think, just been one of the the heroic districts in the country where they've enabled Thomas Massie um to go and to vote in accordance with what they stand for. Um so I'm cautiously optimistic, but that that is my my biggest concern is that disenfranchisement if he does lose.

[00:10:21]>> Yeah, me as well because I think people can only be burned so many times before they say, you know what, I'm just I'm out of here. I can't, you know, I'm not going to be in the in the pit here anymore. And according to I think in terms of the latest polls as far as being cautiously optimistic, he was telling me last time I had 5149. That's that's the name of my channel. He's like that's kind of where we're at right now.

[00:10:39]Literally 5149. That's how close it is right now. Uh but to kind of, you know, end on a positive note, I think, you know, you say this could be this is definitely an inflection point for this country, for the democracy. If it goes poorly, you know, it could be it could end badly. But if it goes well, right, if he was able to win, that means that I think it could inspire other members of Congress to do the same thing. You know, he was saying this last night, it could inspire other people to kind of vote their conscience more often than not and say, you know what, even if the big guns are going to attack me, I have my people behind me, I could still win elections uh representing my people versus representing the donors or representing the the Epstein class. So, we'll have to kind of see what happens uh on Tuesday.

[00:11:20]Um, you know, in terms of the American democracy. Any final words before I let you go? Joe, thank you so much for your service, by the way, to this country as well as your resignation letter. I think that was huge in terms of shining a light on the inside. So, you know, I know it takes a lot of courage for doing that. You're also, you know, probably on the receiving end of some some retaliatory measures as well. So, I just want to say that final words for the American people. No, >> I appreciate it, man. Thank you. Um, really, I I think that the biggest message I have is everybody needs to get out there and vote on Tuesday. It's cliche to say, but that's what we need.

[00:11:52]I've ran before and it's hard to get people to vote in primaries. It really is. So getting the door knockers out there to make sure that we're dragging everybody out there to the polls, that's key because this is going to be a shot across the bow. If Massie wins, this proves that the big money can't silence the voice of the American people. Uh and it will be huge and it will inspire other congressmen, other candidates to speak up, to speak truth to power, and then to vote in accordance with we the people. And I think that momentum can start to drive us into 2028. um and we can actually have some real change in this country. So, appreciate you guys being out there on the ground. I wish I could be there uh this weekend with with all of you. But, uh this is great and you know, God bless. Let's pray for the best on Tuesday.

[00:12:31]>> Doing our best. Thank you so much, Joe.

[00:12:33]Appreciate you for be uh for for a few minutes coming on the program and uh you know, hopefully maybe we'll see a Joe Kent 2028. Who knows?

[00:12:40]>> Who knows?

[00:12:42]>> Thanks, man. Appreciate it.

[00:12:43]>> Thanks, man. Appreciate it.

[00:12:44]>> That is it for me today. Let me know what you think. Do you agree? Is this the most consequential election in US history? Sound off in the comment section below. As you guys know, I am out here in Kentucky. So, if you want to support my journalism, you can head on over to my website, 5149jameslee.com.

[00:13:00]You can sign up to become a member. You can also give a onetime donation. No subscription necessary. You can also pick up some merch. But if you're not able to, no worries at all. Just take a second to like this video, share it, subscribe if you haven't already done so, hit that notification bell so you can be the first to know when my next video drops. As always, thank you so much for your time and I will see you in the next one.

[00:13:20]>> So, Congressman, in the last two weeks, you repeated AOC's talking points on Venezuela and Jasmine Crockett has retweeted you. When will you change your party affiliation to Democrat?

[00:13:32]>> Huh?

[00:13:32]>> I thought you knew. I vote with Republicans 91% of the time, >> it seems. And the 9% I don't, they're taken up for pedophiles, starting another war, or bankrupting our