President Donald Trump will replace Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, instead nominating Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to take her place.
Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post on Thursday, saying Noem would be reassigned as the special envoy for the “shield of the Americas,” a security initiative that will be launched this weekend.
Mullin will need to be confirmed by the Senate in order to take the position.
“A MAGA Warrior, and former undefeated professional MMA fighter, Markwayne truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda,” Trump said. “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.”
Frustrations with Noem mount after Minnesota shootings and congressional hearing
Trump had reportedly been frustrated with Noem already, and his frustration reportedly grew after her performance during congressional hearings this week.
The president was speaking with Republican leaders about his displeasure and made it clear that he was considering replacing her, NBC News reported before the firing was made official.
Senate Republicans were notified of the decision during their lunch meeting. Sen. Eric Schmitt, of Missouri, said he was hosting when Indiana Sen. Jim Banks started waving and told him to look at his phone.
Schmitt then announced Noem’s ouster to the room by reading the Truth Social post aloud.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana was one of the Republicans grilling Noem during her testimony this week, as he pressed her about how much money she was spending on ads.
He said he spoke with the president after the exchange and Trump “was not happy.”
Upon hearing about Noem, Kennedy said “the president was not happy and I remember thinking the secretary was pretty much as dead as fried chicken.”
Noem, a former South Dakota congresswoman and governor, was leading Trump’s deportation initiative at the Homeland Security Department, one of his top priorities.
She clamped down on illegal immigration at the nation’s southern border and oversaw Customs and Border Patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as they were sent around the country.
She came under fire in recent months, partially for the detention and deportation of individuals who hadn’t committed crimes, but also for not paying enough attention to her duties as the leader of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Noem also was sharply criticized for her response to ICE activity in Minnesota earlier this year, especially after federal agents shot and killed two protesters.
Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, the first time she appeared before Congress since the two fatal shootings.
She faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats over her handling of DHS.
Her testimony also comes as the department was left unfunded, largely due to Democrats’ opposition to her handling of immigration policy and other issues.
Who is Sen. Markwayne Mullin?
Mullin, who has represented Oklahoma since 2023, will still need to be confirmed by the Senate. He’s the second member of the Cherokee Nation to serve in the Senate.
Mullin served 10 years in the House before being elected to the upper chamber. He often serves as a mediator between the House, Senate and White House.
Mullin is a Trump ally and has made several headlines during his time on Capitol Hill. He’s well liked by Republicans and will likely have an easy time being confirmed.
Before serving in Congress, Mullin was a rancher and business owner. He serves on the Senate Armed Services, Appropriations and other committees.
He once was involved in an ethics investigation for his involvement in his family’s businesses while serving in the House. Mullin is also a martial arts fighter and once challenged Sean O’Brien, the Teamsters president, to a fight during a congressional hearing, though no physical altercation occurred.
What they’re saying
Noem was speaking at an event in Nashville when Trump’s announcement was released. She didn’t address the post and it’s unclear if she knew about the position change beforehand.
In a post after her speech, Noem thanked Trump for appointing her to be the special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. She said she looks forward to working closely with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “dismantle cartels.”
She said the Western Hemisphere is critical for U.S. security and in the new role, she will “be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise” she gained leading DHS.
“We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again: we delivered the MOST secure border in American history, 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., we have located 145,000 children, FEMA delivered disaster relief at a 100% faster rate, we ushered in the golden age of travel, saved the American taxpayer $13 billion and revitalized the U.S. Coast Guard,” she wrote.
Mullin, speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, said he has spoken to Trump but he needs to talk with the president more so they can “get on the same page.” He confirmed that he found out about landing the nomination just “a little bit” before the public found out.
He didn’t explicitly say if he thought he could do a better job than Noem, calling her a friend, but he argued there’s always room for improvement. He said he was surprised to get the call from Trump about the nomination on this day and was excited about being confirmed. Mullin noted that he wants to try to win over Democrats in the confirmation process.
“When I go into this position, yes I’m a Republican. Yes, I’m conservative, but Department of Homeland Security is to keep everybody, regardless if you support me, if you don’t support me, regardless of what your thoughts are, I’m here to enforce the policies that Congress passed, and I, right now I’m part of it, but once I make that transition, my focus is to keep the homeland secure,” Mullin said. “That’s going to be my focus and we’re super excited.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said they will try to work quickly on confirming Mullin.
“He’s obviously pretty well vetted around here, so hopefully we can get the process going, because I think that’s a position that’s going to need to be filled quickly,” he said.
However, Democrats celebrated the ousting. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said “good riddance. She was a disaster.” Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said he was glad Noem is gone and “Pam Bondi is next.”
Once Mullin is confirmed and vacates his seat in the Senate, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt can appoint a temporary person to take over until the fall election. However, state law stipulates that the individual who temporarily fills the role cannot run for the seat. Rep. Stephanie Bice, a Republican from Oklahoma, is reportedly “considering” a bid.