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Former Washington congressional candidate Joe Kent was confirmed as director of the National Counterterrorism Center on Wednesday.

In a 52 to 44 largely party-line vote, the U.S. Senate approved Kent to lead the nation’s efforts in combating foreign and domestic terrorism.

Joe Kent approved as National Counterterrorism Center director

Kent is a former U.S. Army soldier, Green Beret, and CIA Officer. President Donald Trump his nomination for Kent earlier this year, stating that “Joe will help us keep America safe by eradicating all terrorism.”

As an 18-year-old, Kent enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, earning his way into the Ranger Regiment, and then U.S. Army Special Forces “Green Berets,” according to .

“After 9/11, I volunteered at every opportunity to serve in combat. I did this for over twenty years and eleven combat deployments,” Kent stated.

Kent praised Trump and the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, for their confidence in his abilities following his confirmation.

It’s an honor to serve our nation again & to be back in the fight against terrorism.

Thank you President Trump & DNI Gabbard for your confidence in my leadership.

NCTC will relentlessly pursue & defeat our nation’s enemies.

In honor of our fallen, we fight on. 🇺🇸

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19)

Senator Tom Cotton recapped Kent’s qualifications to command the position as director in a social media post.

“Mr. Kent understands the grave threat that terrorism imposes to the security and safety of Americans,” Cotton said. “He is committed to returning the National Counterterrorism Center to its statutory mission of integrating threat intelligence from foreign terrorist organizations.”

Joe Kent has 20 years of military service and 11 combat deployments. He has dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.

I urge my Senate colleagues to confirm Joe Kent as our next NCTC Director.

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton)

Senator Patty Murray urged her collegues to vote against Kent, claimed he was a conspiracy theorist, and held a white supremecist ideology.

The Senate should NOT confirm a man with white supremacist views to be Director of Counterterrorism.

Joe Kent is also a conspiracy theorist.

Colleagues, let’s please do exactly what people in Washington did each time they were asked to trust Joe Kent…

VOTE NO.

— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray)

Following the confirmation, Kent reposted numerous positive messages on social media, some stating, “It’s a bad day to be a terrorist.”

Four senators in the vote including, Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

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