- Names Mullin as replacement
US President, Donald Trump, on Thursday, announced the removal of Kristi Noem from her position as Homeland Security Secretary.
The president disclosed the decision on social media, stating that he would nominate Markwayne Mullin as her replacement.
Noem, who was appointed to lead the United States Department of Homeland Security at the beginning of Trump’s administration, had recently come under increasing scrutiny over her conduct in office.
The concerns include allegations of a romantic relationship with her chief adviser, questions about how the department’s large funding windfall was distributed — especially for an advertising campaign that prominently featured her — and conflicting explanations over fatal incidents involving federal immigration agents.
Some current and former homeland security officials had privately raised doubts about how long she would remain in the role following what they described as a series of missteps.
Among the incidents cited was a decision to suspend Transportation Security Administration PreCheck during the ongoing DHS funding lapse without prior notice to the White House. The move reportedly caught the administration off guard and was reversed within hours.
Officials also pointed to her testimony during two congressional hearings this week, which reportedly angered Trump. The president was particularly upset over her claim that he was aware of a costly DHS advertising campaign that featured her — a claim he denies.
Sources told CNN that Trump had recently discussed the possibility of replacing Noem with several Republican lawmakers, mentioning potential candidates during conversations with members of Congress. Punchbowl News earlier reported on the president’s discussions with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The situation intensified after the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, as well as Noem’s controversial responses to the incidents.
Following the shootings, Trump reportedly asked allies for their views about the secretary’s performance. However, some people close to the president initially believed the questions were typical of his style, as he often checks in on how members of his team are performing, particularly during periods of criticism.
CNN had earlier reported that some senior White House officials were also frustrated with Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s top aide, who faced tough questions during the congressional hearings held this week.
- CNN