Donald Trump on Thursday announced the firing of Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, replacing her with Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. The move, effective 31 March, follows weeks of bipartisan criticism over Noem's leadership, including the killing of two US citizens by immigration agents and reports of a personal relationship with a senior aide.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Noem 'has served us well' and would become special envoy for 'the Shield of the Americas', a security initiative to be announced over the weekend. Mullin called the appointment 'humbling', while Democrats welcomed Noem's departure. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said: 'Good riddance. She was a disaster.'
Noem thanked Trump for the new role, promoting her record at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stressed that personnel changes alone would not address policy concerns. Schumer said: 'I don't trust any one person being in charge of this agency as long as Trump is president, given the policies he's espoused.'
Noem's tenure was marred by controversy, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during ICE operations. She labelled both citizens 'domestic terrorists', a claim disputed by Democrats and some Republicans. Reports also emerged of a personal relationship with senior adviser Corey Lewandowski, with whom she travelled on a luxury jet and administered polygraph tests to staff.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: 'I think it was time for a change.' Noem, a former South Dakota governor, was considered a potential 2024 running mate for Trump but was passed over after admitting to killing a dog in her memoir.
