WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Sen. Markwayne Mullin faced fellow senators at a confirmation hearing Wednesday.
And it didn’t start well for the Oklahoma Republican, who has been tapped to take over DHS at a critical time. The US is locked in a war with Iran and the Trump administration is facing backlash for its aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. DHS funding froze on February 13, causing major delays at the airports and the two parties not reaching an agreement.
Sen. Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Rand Paul, R-Ky., used his opening remarks to confront Mullin, reportedly calling him a “weird snake” and saying he “absolutely” understood why the neighbor attacked Paul in 2017.
“Tell me to my face why you think I deserve it,” Paul told Mullin, referring to Mullin’s attempt to challenge the union leader to a fight during a 2023 committee hearing. “And while you’re at it, explain to the American public why a person with anger issues should be trusted to set the right example for ICE and Border Patrol agents.”
“I wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that is struggling to accept limits to the proper use of force,” Paul said.
Ranking member Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. Mullin sat quietly and watched as he took the mic to make his opening statement.
“While I’m interested in hearing more about your vision for leading the department, I have reservations about your readiness to play such an important role at such a critical time,” Peters told him, calling on Mullin to give a candid assessment of how the Trump administration is performing.
Mullin was chosen to take over for DHS Secretary Kristy Noem, who Trump fired earlier this month after a rocky tenure. The president has nominated Mullin by March 31, though he still needs to be confirmed by the Senate first.
Republicans control 53 seats in the chamber, and Mullin needs 50 senators to secure confirmation. Initial expectations are that Republican senators are committed to Trump’s choice and that he will get enough votes in the end.
But initial friction suggests it won’t be smooth sailing for him to get unanimous support from Republicans, who hold an 8-7 majority on the committee.
“I have to address the criticism that the president called me a liar. Sir, I think I’m—everyone in this room knows that I’m very blunt and to the point. And if I have something to say, I’m going to say it right to your face,” Mullin said.
The senator did not apologize to Paul.
“Looks like you’re fighting the Republicans more than you’re working with us,” he told Paul. “We won’t be together.”
“If I say I incite violence, I don’t. I don’t think anybody should be surprised. I don’t like it,” Mullin told Paul, “let me earn your respect.”
“I’m not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect,” he said.
Mullin first became a senator in 2023 after serving in the House a decade earlier.
