President Donald Trump has branded Republican senators Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski as "losers" after they called for the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the killing of a nurse by border officials. In an interview with ABC News, Trump said: "Well, they're both losers. They're terrible senators. One is gone and the other should be gone."
Tillis, who announced last year that he would not seek re-election, responded with sarcasm. "I'm kind of excited about being called a 'loser,'" he told The Independent. "Apparently that qualifies me to be DHS secretary and senior adviser to the president." He also laughed off the label, saying he tries to stay out of the way of those who rush to the cameras.
Murkowski took a more measured tone, acknowledging it was Trump's decision whether to keep Noem in her role. "You know, he obviously disagrees with my assessment of the job that Secretary Noem is doing, and ultimately it's his call as to who he keeps in this position," she said. She also noted that she had voted to confirm Noem last year but would likely not do so today.
The dispute stems from the killing of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection officials. Noem and others labelled Pretti a "domestic terrorist", but video evidence contradicted claims that he brandished a handgun. Calls for Noem's resignation have increased from both sides of the political aisle.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also criticised the characterisation of Pretti as a domestic terrorist. "You had a citizen in this country killed, but based on the evidence I've seen so far, that wouldn't be a characterisation I would use," he told The Independent.
