Posted on 03/05/26
| News Source: CNN
President Donald Trump said Thursday on social media he was pushing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem out of her position and would nominate Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her.
Noem, who was tapped by Trump to helm DHS at the start of his administration, has faced growing scrutiny over her conduct in the position, including her alleged romantic relationship with her chief adviser, distribution of the windfall of cash the department has received — particularly for an ad campaign that showcased her prominently — and her conflicting accounts over fatal incidents involving federal immigration agents.
Current and former Homeland Security officials have privately questioned how much longer the secretary would remain in the post following what they perceived as a series of missteps. Those include blindsiding the White House with a decision to pause TSA precheck during the current DHS funding lapse — a decision that was reversed within hours — and her responses during two congressional hearings this week.
Trump himself was angry with how the hearings went — particularly her assertion, which he denies, that the president was aware of an expensive DHS ad campaign that featured her. He has indicated in conversations with some Republican lawmakers that he’s open to replacing her, floating names of various members of Congress as potential replacements, sources told CNN. Punchbowl News previously reported on Trump’s conversations with Hill Republicans.
Since the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and Noem’s controversial responses, Trump has been asking allies about what they think of her. Those close to him believed at the time that it was largely Trump being Trump — he often asks about his team and how they are doing, particularly amid backlash.
CNN has previously reported that some top White House officials have long been frustrated with Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s top aide and the subject of some pointed questioning during this week’s congressional hearings.
CNN reached out to the White House for comment.