President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem yesterday after growing tensions over the department’s handling of immigration and disaster response.
Trump announced on Truth Social that he nominated Markwayne Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, to replace Noem.
“Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,” Trump posted. “Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security.”
Mullin is a member of the Cherokee Nation and a former professional MMA fighter. He is a regular supporter of Trump’s actions and policies.
Mullin thanked Trump for the nomination in a post on X.
“I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the Senate and carrying out President Trump’s mission alongside the department’s many capable agencies and the thousands of patriots who keep us safe every day,” he said.
Although Noem is no longer secretary, Trump appointed her to a new position.
“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida,” he said in the post. “I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a press release thanking Noem and calling her “the most successful DHS Secretary in history.”
“President Trump and Secretary Noem restored the rule of law, delivered the most secure border ever, removed hundreds of thousands of dangerous illegal aliens, created safer communities, strengthened cyber defense, fixed disaster response, launched initiatives that are reshaping American air travel, and has made America safer for generations to come,” the press release said. “The American people and our posterity are better off today, tomorrow, and for generations to come because of Secretary Noem’s dedication to public service.”
Noem said in the press release and in a post on X that she looked forward to working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren.”
“The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security. In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security,” she said.
DHS has been shut down for weeks due to legislators refusing to fund it without changes to policies for immigration enforcement. Noem testified before members of the Senate on Tuesday, facing criticisms and concerns from Republicans as well as Democrats.
Noem had been facing increasing scrutiny since the federal immigration agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two American citizens, in Minneapolis. At the hearing, Noem said she regretted the deaths, but she did not retract her earlier comments claiming the victims were engaging in “domestic terrorism.”
Mullin will still need to be confirmed by the Senate to step into the role, but POLITICO predicted that he is likely to have a straightforward path to confirmation.