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Trump removes Noem as Homeland Security face
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Kristi Noem will step down as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later this month, replacing her with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. The move marks the first major shakeup in Trump's second-term cabinet and follows months of controversy over Noem's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
Noem's controversial tenure
Noem, a rising star in Trump's administration, took over DHS last year and quickly became the public face of the president's hardline immigration policies. She frequently joined field agents during raids, often wearing a bulletproof vest, and championed Trump's deportation efforts. Her approach included high-profile visits abroad, such as a tour of a maximum-security prison in El Salvador housing deported migrants.
However, her leadership drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. Critics accused her of using her role to bolster her personal image, pointing to a $50,000 Rolex she wore during the El Salvador visit and a DHS ad campaign featuring her on horseback urging undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S. Democrats in Congress condemned her for spending $220 million on the ad blitz and nearly $200 million on two luxury jets for official travel.
Trump's public rebuke
Noem defended the ad campaign in a congressional hearing this week, claiming Trump was aware of the expenditures. The president, however, contradicted her publicly on Thursday, telling Reuters he had no knowledge of the spending. "I never knew anything about it," he said.
Tensions escalated earlier this week after a contentious call between Trump and Corey Lewandowski, a senior Noem adviser, following her testimony. CBS reported that Lewandowski, who is also leaving DHS, was caught in the crossfire of Trump's frustration with Noem's handling of the role.
Political fallout and public opinion
Trump's decision to replace Noem appears to reflect growing concerns over the political fallout from the administration's immigration crackdown. In January, federal agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during a raid, sparking widespread backlash. Trump responded by sending White House border tsar Tom Homan to oversee the situation-a move widely seen as a snub to Noem.
Noem faced further criticism for her response to the Minneapolis shootings, including an unsubstantiated claim that one of the victims, Alex Pretti, had "committed an act of domestic terrorism" before being killed. Polls suggest most Americans support parts of Trump's immigration agenda but oppose aggressive enforcement tactics, posing a challenge for Republicans ahead of the election.
Mullin's hardline stance
Mullin, a conservative Trump ally, is expected to maintain the administration's tough immigration policies. Like Noem, he has been a vocal advocate for strict enforcement, recently defending federal agents as "patriots" amid criticism over the Minneapolis shootings. He has also blamed Democrats for a partial government shutdown at DHS over funding disputes related to immigration reforms.
What's next for Noem and Trump's cabinet
Noem will transition to a new role as special envoy for the "Shield of the Americas," a U.S. security initiative in the Western Hemisphere. Trump thanked her for her service but made no secret of his dissatisfaction with her performance. While his second-term cabinet has remained largely stable, Noem's departure raises questions about whether more changes are on the horizon.
In a scene reminiscent of Trump's first term, Noem was delivering a speech when the president announced her firing on Truth Social. She later posted a message thanking Trump for her new assignment. As the first high-profile casualty of Trump's second term, her removal underscores the president's willingness to act swiftly when political winds shift.
