For weeks, there has been some intrigue surrounding Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Speculation has arisen about whether she would be removed from her position, particularly in light of ongoing public relations challenges related to the surges at ICE and the erosion of trust with the public and the press.
On March 3, Noem testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and revealed information that the president reportedly did not want to be made public. Rumors suggest that the president has been considering replacing Noem due to his irritation with the situation. This morning, National Review broke the story, which has now been confirmed by the president. Markwayne Mullin is set to replace Noem at the end of the month:
SCOOP: Trump's furious that Noem said under oath in her Senate Judiciary hearing that the he had advance knowledge of the $220M DHS ad campaign & approved its release
He's privately floated Markwayne Mullin as prospective replacement, @NRO has learnedhttps://t.co/7KyWyACkhB
— Audrey Fahlberg (@AudreyFahlberg) March 5, 2026
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KENNEDY: How do square your concern with waste with the fact you spent $220 million running TV ads that feature you prominently?
NOEM: The president tasked me with getting the message out to the country and other countries where we were seeing the invasion come from
KENNEDY:… pic.twitter.com/73mp3PpglW
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2026
President Donald Trump is privately furious with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for suggesting in her Senate Judiciary Committee testimony on Tuesday that he gave advance approval of a taxpayer-funded $220 million ad campaign contract that was subcontracted to one of her allies, National Review has learned.
The president is frustrated that the embattled cabinet secretary repeatedly suggested under oath that the president was aware of the multi-million-dollar ad campaign — which featured Noem prominently — and approved its release before the agency greenlit the contract, according to a source familiar with the president’s thinking.
“Did the president know you were gonna do this?” Kennedy interjected.
Noem answered again in the affirmative multiple times. “I’m not saying you’re not telling the truth. It’s just hard for me to believe, knowing the president, as I do, that you said, ‘Mr. President, here’s some ads I’ve cut, and I’m going to spend $220 million running them,’ that he would have agreed to that,” Kennedy said. “I don’t think Russ Vought” at the Office of Management and Budget “would have agreed to that,” he added.
These frustrations have prompted the president to privately express his openness to replacing her, according to a person familiar with the matter. One name he has begun floating this week as a potential replacement: Oklahoma’s junior U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin.
Punchbowl News reported earlier Thursday morning Trump was quizzing congressional Republicans on whether he should fire Noem
— Audrey Fahlberg (@AudreyFahlberg) March 5, 2026
?BREAKING: Trump announces that Senator Markwayne Mullin will be the next Secretary of Homeland Security.
The change will be official at the end of the month. pic.twitter.com/KDDEzkBd9v
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 5, 2026
This hearing appeared to be the final straw, however. Trump is moving Noem over to Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
BREAKING: President Trump announces that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is being replaced by Sen. Markwayne Mullen (R-OK) effective March 31st.
Wow.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 5, 2026
No doubt, Noem made a mistake by inaccurately claiming details about the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, prompting her to later retract her statement. There have also been ongoing rumors about Noem and Corey Lewandowski, but those have been around for months and haven’t negatively impacted her. However, making Trump look bad can have serious consequences. In fact, making your boss look bad, in general, is often a surefire way to get fired from any job.
This situation sets the stage for an intense showdown in the Senate regarding the confirmation of Mullin.
