Republican Senator Kristy Noem was chosen to head DHS amid an ongoing standoff with Democrats over immigration.
US President Donald Trump has nominated Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be Secretary of Homeland Security.
Mullin replaces Kristi Noem, who was fired after bipartisan criticism over the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretty, who were killed by immigration officials in Minneapolis.
In Satya Social, Trump called the Republican senator a “Warrior” with the need “Wisdom and Courage” To advance their America First agenda. He told NBC that he was a “big fan” Mullin added “It wasn’t a hard choice.” to nominate him.
A wrestler as a senator
Mullin enjoyed a brief career in mixed martial arts and college wrestling, compiling a 5-0 record before leaving the sport to take over his family’s plumbing business. He was first elected to Congress in 2012, serving three terms in the House before becoming a senator in 2023.
When he first ran for the House, Mullin presented himself as an outsider frustrated by government regulations on businesses. However, he later faced controversy for accepting substantial amounts of money from the federal Covid-19 rescue program, between $800,000 and $1.9 million for four separate businesses he owned, according to PBS.
In 2023, Mullin challenged Sean O’Brien, head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to a physical fight during a Senate hearing. “It’s an effective way to deal with physical violence,” he told CNN at the time “Keyboard Warriors” Who speaks online without facing consequences.
An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin is the first tribal citizen to serve in the Senate in nearly two decades.
A homeland security hardliner
In the Senate, Mullin has been a staunch supporter of Trump’s policies on immigration and law enforcement. He defended the filming of Good and Pretty, describing love as a “A deranged man with a loaded pistol intent on causing massive damage” According to Forbes. He supported Noem’s claims that federal agents were responding to acts of domestic terrorism.
Mullin supported Trump’s efforts to limit birthright citizenship, arguing that babies born in the US to undocumented parents should be deported along with them. He asserted that there is “Entire Industry” Bringing pregnant women “in his last month” On vacation visas to obtain US citizenship for their children.
In February, Mullin told CNBC that everyone should carry proof of citizenship and that law enforcement should provide it when asked.
“Yes, I’m a Republican, yes I’m a Conservative” Mullin said after his nomination. “It doesn’t matter if you support me or not, I’m laser-focused on doing it.”
He criticized Democrats in Congress for the partial government shutdown that led to a funding shortfall at the Department of Homeland Security in February. “They (immigration agents) are not stopping doing their job.”
Standoff with Democrats
If confirmed by the Senate, Mullin will take over as the new DHS chief on March 31. His predecessor, Noem, faced widespread criticism for his response to Good and Pretty’s death and was accused of using department resources for self-promotion and sensationalism.
Mullin will have to oversee the implementation of Trump’s tough crackdown on illegal immigration in cities led by Democrats, where political leaders refuse to cooperate with federal agents and activists try to obstruct their work.
