Incoming Homeland Security Secretary Defends Corporal Punishment in Resurfaced Video
Markwayne Mullin, the newly confirmed Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is set to be sworn in on Tuesday afternoon, replacing outgoing secretary Kristi Noem. His appointment comes amid renewed attention on a 2023 speech where he openly discussed and defended spanking his children as a disciplinary measure.
Controversial Remarks to Religious Group
During a meeting with the "City Elders," an activist organization focused on placing what Mullin described as "Godly people" into local positions of power, the incoming DHS head detailed his approach to parenting. Mullin, a father of six and former professional MMA fighter turned senator, told the group that parents must be "willing to discipline our kids." He reflected on his own childhood, stating that when he was beaten, he "deserved" his lashings.
"I’ve never seen a man that can take a belt off so fast, double it up and still hit you. I don’t know how in the world he done that. I tried it and I just can’t," Mullin said of his father, who was present in the audience. He then admitted to spanking his own children, asserting he has "no problem with that," a statement met with applause from the group.
Emotional Accounts of Discipline
Mullin insisted that his punishment methods do not create rifts with his children, claiming his daughters often comfort him shortly after being spanked. "I can spank them and I’m still upset and they’ll come and crawl on my lap two minutes later and just hug on me," he explained. However, he recounted an instance where one daughter pleaded with him not to hit her, leading him to threaten a worse spanking if she did not comply.
"No, daddy, no. Daddy, no daddy, no, I’m sorry, daddy, I’m sorry, dad," he recalled the girl saying. Mullin described how she would resist bending over, prompting him to warn, "Hun, you got like two seconds or you going to get two instead of one." He noted she would be angry with him for "like a day" afterward.
Disciplining his son proved emotionally challenging for Mullin, as the boy would cry before being hit. "He was so hard on himself because he would just have this huge crocodile tear running down his eyes," Mullin said.
Confirmation Hearing and Political Feuds
The resurfaced video emerged as Mullin was confirmed to lead the DHS, succeeding Kristi Noem, who was reassigned to President Donald Trump's "Shield of the Americas" military coalition. Noem's removal followed criticism of a $220 million DHS ad campaign featuring her riding a horse in front of Mount Rushmore.
During his confirmation hearing, Mullin faced tense questioning, including from Senator Rand Paul, with whom he has a longstanding feud. Mullin has previously called Paul a "freaking snake" and defended the individual who assaulted Paul at his home. Paul challenged Mullin during the hearing, asking him to "explain to the American people why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and border patrol agents."
Mullin responded defiantly, stating he would address issues directly to Paul's face. The hearing also featured a video of Mullin challenging a union leader to a fight during a 2023 Senate hearing, though Mullin noted they have since become friends.
Policy Stances and Future Goals
In his hearing, Mullin called for the swift restoration of DHS funding and emphasized his commitment to avoiding constant media scrutiny. "My goal in six months is that we're not in the lead story every single day. My goal is for people to understand we're out there. We're protecting them, and we're working with them," he stated.
He also faced questions on election integrity, refusing to acknowledge Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election and declining to directly answer whether DHS officers would be stationed at polling places during midterms. Despite the controversies, Mullin was confirmed and will assume his role on Tuesday afternoon. The Independent has sought comment from Mullin regarding the resurfaced video and his disciplinary practices.
