Trump Ousts Noem as Homeland Chief After Rocky Tenure

President Trump announced that he is moving Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem to a different role and replacing her with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. The move comes after faced bipartisan criticism at congressional hearings for her handling of the deaths of US citizens by ICE officers, as well as a her use of government funds for a pricey ad campaign. Noem is set to become special envoy for the Western Hemisphere. Bloomberg's Jeff Mason reports.

The change comes after Noem faced bipartisan rebukes during congressional hearings this week. Trump was upset with Noem for telling lawmakers that the president signed off on a roughly $200 million advertising campaign, which featured herself urging migrants to self-deport, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The president was mad at Noem and considered firing her after that claim, the person said. Trump did not approve the ad, the person added.

Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, who aggressively questioned Noem during one of the hearings, said that Trump asked him what he thought of replacing her with Mullin during a phone call. Trump was “not a happy cowboy” over Noem’s comments about the ad, Kennedy said.

“I remember thinking that the secretary’s pretty much as dead as fried chicken,” Kennedy added.

The senator said he told Trump that he was “fond” of Mullin and asked “is she going to pull down the TV ads? They’re still running.”

Noem has been a loyal lieutenant to Trump during his second term. But a number of blunders led to political headaches and negative press for the administration. That includes her suggestion that two US citizens killed by immigration officers in Minnesota were domestic terrorists.

This week’s hearings capped months of mounting scrutiny for the 54-year-old former South Dakota governor, who had become one of the most visible faces of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Controversial Lieutenant

The controversy follows a sweeping federal immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis area that sent thousands of agents into Minnesota and led to thousands of arrests. Two US citizens — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were fatally shot by federal immigration officers during the operation in January, sparking protests and national scrutiny.

The episode appeared to weaken Noem’s standing inside the administration when Trump dispatched border adviser Tom Homan to Minnesota to help oversee the federal response and he negotiated a pullback — a move that effectively sidelined the Homeland Security chief. At the time, Trump publicly brushed aside questions about Noem’s future, saying he still had confidence in her.

Recent polling has also shown growing public skepticism about the administration’s immigration crackdown. A February Reuters/Ipsos poll found about 38% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, down from 39% in January and as much as 50% shortly after he returned to the presidency last year.

Noem was speaking Thursday at a previously scheduled event, the Sergeant Benevolent Association Major Cities Conference in Nashville, as the announcement was made. She touted the agency’s efforts at fighting cartels.

Trump said he would be naming Noem as an envoy to a new security initiative for the Western Hemisphere he plans to announce Saturday at a summit with Latin American leaders.

In a statement on social media, Noem said in her new role she would build on relationships and national security experience developed during her 13 months as Homeland Security secretary.

“Thank you to President Donald Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,” she wrote. “The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for US security.”

Noem has been a loyal lieutenant to Trump during his second term. But a number of blunders led to political headaches and negative press for the administration. That includes her suggestion that the two US citizens killed by immigration officers in Minnesota were domestic terrorists.

--------

Watch Bloomberg Radio LIVE on YouTube

Weekdays 7am-6pm ET

Follow us on X

Subscribe to our Podcasts:

Bloomberg Daybreak

Bloomberg Surveillance

Bloomberg Intelligence

Balance of Power

Bloomberg Businessweek

Listen on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the Bloomberg Business app:

Apple CarPlay

Android Auto

Visit our YouTube channels:

Bloomberg Podcasts

Bloomberg Television

Bloomberg Originals