Questions are already emerging about ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s named successor, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and how DHS could change under his leadership — or what might stay the same.
President Donald Trump, in his Thursday social media post announcing Noem’s firing, didn’t provide a direct explanation for the move. However, sources within the administration told Fox News that it was due to a litany of reasons.
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“It was a combination of Noem’s many unfortunate leadership failures, from Minnesota to the ad campaign to allegations of an affair,” a source told Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.
Noem’s handling of the administration’s immigration operations in Minnesota had been harshly criticized during the last two months of her tenure at DHS, particularly her comments regarding the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.
Noem was quick to label the actions of both Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Good, a 37–year–old mother of three, as “domestic terrorism” just hours after their deaths.
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“This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement,” Noem said following Pretti’s death. “This individual, who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers, committed an act of domestic terrorism.”
Immediately following Good’s death, Noem said, “It was an act of domestic terrorism.”
“What happened was our ICE officers were out in enforcement action, they got stuck in the snow because of the adverse weather that is in Minneapolis, they were attempting to push out their vehicle, and a woman attacked them,” she continued.
While it’s unclear whether Noem’s comments contributed to Trump’s decision to fire her, Mullin’s comments following the killing of Pretti don’t indicate things will change much at DHS should he be confirmed by the Senate.
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“Unfortunately, an individual, a deranged individual, that came in to cause max damage, with a loaded pistol with an extra mag that was completely loaded, was shot and killed,” Mullin said on Fox News after Pretti’s death. “How much more does this gotta go on before the Democrat leaders take responsibility for their words?”
In addition to his comments about Pretti, Mullin has had several public moments that may raise difficult questions during his confirmation hearings, including an incident in 2023 in which Mullin seemingly attempted to pick a physical fight with Teamsters President Sean O’Brien during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing.
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“This is a time, this is a place, you wanna run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here,” Mullin said at the time.
“OK, that’s fine,” O’Brien said.
“You wanna do it now?” Mullin said.
“I’d love to do it now,” O’Brien responded.
“You stand your butt up then,” Mullin said.
“You stand your butt up then,” O’Brien said before Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) interrupted the two.
Video of the incident began to recirculate on social media following Trump’s announcement.
On Truth Social, Trump cited several reasons for his decision to nominate Mullin as Noem’s replacement.
“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 wrote.
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Mullin said in a statement that he was grateful to Trump for the opportunity to lead DHS and looked forward to earning the support of his Senate colleagues during his confirmation hearings.
“President Trump ran on restoring law and order, and he quickly delivered the most secure U.S. border in American history. I look forward to supporting @POTUS’ mission to safeguard the American people and defend the homeland,” Mullin posted on X.
No date has been set as of yet for Mullin’s confirmation hearings.