Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; Cherokee Nation Citizen Markwayne Mullin tapped as successor

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ending a turbulent tenure marked by operational failures, public controversy, and a series of investigations that had eroded confidence in her leadership. The president simultaneously announced that Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, will be nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Noem’s ouster followed two days of bruising Senate Judiciary Committee hearings in which lawmakers pressed her on DHS’s handling of nationwide immigration raids and the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens killed during a DHS operation in Minneapolis. Noem inflamed the crisis by labeling the victims “domestic terrorists,” a claim contradicted by investigators and widely condemned.

But the hearings also revived a series of long running controversies that had shadowed Noem for years — including persistent rumors about her relationship with Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, and a pattern of using taxpayer-funded advertising to elevate her personal brand.

The most damaging moment came when senators confronted Noem with documents showing DHS had attempted to purchase a luxury Boeing aircraft outfitted with a private bedroom. A senator held up a photo of the bedroom and asked why DHS needed a plane more suited to a head of state than deportation flights.

Noem froze, visibly rattled, as cameras captured her husband seated directly behind her. The exchange went viral within minutes, reinforcing a narrative that she had lost control of both the department and her public image.

Compounding the fallout, congressional investigators revealed that a portion of a $220 million DHS media contract — used to produce high gloss ads featuring Noem in Western themed, cinematic imagery — had flowed to a company operated by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson.

The contract had been issued under DHS’s “emergency” authority, allowing Noem to bypass competitive bidding. Lawmakers said the arrangement raised serious concerns about favoritism and conflicts of interest.

For many in Congress, the staffer linked contract was not an isolated misstep but part of a broader pattern. As governor, Noem had overseen multimillion dollar state funded ad campaigns — including the “Meth. We’re On It.” rollout and the “Freedom Works Here” costume-based workforce ads — that critics said blurred the line between public messaging and personal political branding.

The DHS contract, larger and federally funded, amplified those concerns.

Within 24 hours of Noem’s removal, Lewandowski — who had been serving as a senior adviser inside DHS — was also dismissed. His influence over Noem and the persistent rumors surrounding their relationship had become a recurring theme in congressional questioning.

Trump announced that Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R Okla.), a Cherokee Nation citizen and one of the administration’s most vocal defenders on immigration, will take over DHS effective March 31. Mullin is expected to face a smoother confirmation process than Noem, whose tenure had become a political liability.

Despite her firing, Noem will remain within the administration. She has been reassigned to a newly created diplomatic role — Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas — a position widely viewed as a face-saving exit after weeks of escalating controversy.

Administration officials said the decision to remove Noem was driven by “accumulated concerns” — the Minneapolis shootings, the luxury jet scandal, the staffer linked ad contract, and the perception that Noem treated public office as a stage for personal branding.

Her removal marks one of the most dramatic Cabinet shake ups of Trump’s current term and signals a reset at DHS after months of public turmoil.

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