In a shocking turn of events, President Trump announced in a Truth Social post that Kristi Noem is out as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. Instead, Trump said in the post on Thursday, March 5, that Noem will be moving to be “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” the U.S.’ new security initiative in the western hemisphere.
A special envoy serves on behalf of the President or Secretary of State on a particular policy issue. The Trump administration had not shared details about what the Shield of Americas entails.
News of Noem’s removal shocked the internet as she was giving a keynote speech to the Sergeants Benevolent Association. It was not clear during the Q&A if Noem knew about Trump’s announcement.
The firing came after Noem’s testimony before the Senate and House of Representatives, where she faced criticism and tough questioning not only from Democrats, but Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Kennedy.
Tillis called on Noem to resign over her handling of the Minneapolis immigration operation, which resulted in the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The Department of Homeland Security has come under scrutiny over the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement and Noem’s improper use of official resources.
Trump announced in the same post he would nominate Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin in her place.
Mullin, 48, has become one of Trump’s fiercest defenders in the U.S. Senate and is now positioned to join his administration. Mullin has earned a reputation as a fighter in the senate and has grown friendlier with Trump since they both attended an NCAA wrestling event together in Tulsa in 2023.
“Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Mullin told reporters outside the Capitol on Thursday that he would get the DHS focused on protecting the homeland.
“No matter if you support me, you don’t support me, I’m going to be laser-focused on getting that done,” he said on Capitol Hill.
His “fiery exchanges” in the Senate include a 2023 hearing with the head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, when Mullin told the union leader to “stand your butt up,” before standing from his seat and appearing to take his ring off, a signal of him ready to fight.
Months after the confrontation, Mullin reconciled with the union leader and called him a “new friend.”
At the State of the Union in February, Mullin took a swipe at the sign held by Representative Al Green that said “Black people aren’t apes,” a reference to a racist video the president posted that depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle.
During the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Mullin made national headlines when he attempted to enter the country from multiple locations, but was ultimately denied. Mullin said he was trying to help an American family flee from the war torn country.
