Ex-counterterrorism official Joe Kent endorses GOP Senate primary challenger as Trump backs Lindsey Graham

By Fox News · Fox News

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent endorsed South Carolina U.S. Senate primary candidate Mark Lynch, calling incumbent GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham a "war hawk, neocon." South Carolinians who would like to "stop sending billions of dollars overseas" and "stop us from getting entangled in endless foreign wars in the Middle East," have the opportunity "to do all of us a great service and vote to get Lindsey Graham out of office this Tuesday, June 9th," Kent declared in part of a video message posted to social media on Thursday. "Vote for Mark Lynch," Kent urged, calling Lynch "the America First candidate" and asserting that Lynch "is the best postured right now to get the war hawk, neocon, Lindsey Graham out of office." Graham campaign press secretary Abby Zilch said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "Mark Lynch is touting an endorsement from a man that President Trump called a 'SLEAZEBAG,' 'LEAKER,' and a 'LOSER.'" EX-COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF WARNS OF 'MAJOR PROBLEM' THAT COULD FORCE US 'BACK INTO THE WAR ON IRAN'S TERMS' "This is to be expected since Lynch wants 'more Massies' in Congress," Zilch wrote. "Senator Graham is proud to have the complete and total endorsements of President Trump, Governor McMaster, Senator Tim Scott, Congressman Russell Fry, Congressman Joe Wilson, Congressman William Timmons, National Right to Life, SC Citizens for Life, Tea Party Express, and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America." Fox News Digital reached out to Lynch's campaign on Friday. The candidate noted in a Thursday post on X that he was "honored" to have Kent's endorsement. Trump, who endorsed Graham for re-election last year, blasted Lynch in a Truth Social post earlier this year. "Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a fantastic job. He is running against a LUNATIC named Mark Lynch, who supports perhaps the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky. I don’t have to go into great detail, but needless to say,…