President Trump fired Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Thursday and said he would seek to install Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, one of his close Republican allies, to the post instead.
Mr. Trump said that Mr. Mullin was a “MAGA Warrior” and a “former undefeated professional MMA fighter” who would work to keep the border secure and root out immigrants who crossed the border illegally.
“Markwayne truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda,” Mr. Trump said in a social media post announcing the change.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Mullin praised Mr. Trump’s border policies and said he looked forward to supporting the president’s mission to defend the homeland.
Here is a look at Mr. Mullin and his key policy stances.
Who is Markwayne Mullin?
Mr. Mullin was sworn in as senator in 2023 after a decade of serving in the House. He is the second Cherokee Nation citizen to serve in the Senate, according to his website.
He grew up on his family’s ranch in Westville, Okla., and attended college on a wrestling scholarship before his father became ill; he postponed his studies to take over his family business, Mullin Plumbing.
What policies does he support?
Mr. Mullin has been a staunch defender of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, one of the president’s signature campaign promises that he would have to carry out if he takes over the Homeland Security Department.
He has criticized Democratic-run cities and states for refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials. He has voiced support for building the border wall and passing legislation that would require Americans to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
After immigration agents fatally shot Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis this year, Mr. Mullin said in social media posts that immigration officers were “patriots” who were facing increasing threats, and that obstructing federal law enforcement is a felony.
Mr. Mullin also recently defended Mr. Trump’s decision to strike Iran, saying “we’re taking out the threat.”
Though Mr. Mullin can get confirmed without the support of Democrats, he said on Thursday that he was open to having a conversation with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, to hear about ways in which his party is seeking to overhaul the Homeland Security Department.
But he said he would “see if it’s practical” to make such changes and he would “enforce the policies and the laws that Congress has passed” in support of protecting the homeland.
He also praised Ms. Noem as a “friend” who had performed the best she could in a “very difficult job.” Still, he said, “there’s an opportunity to build off successes, and there’s also opportunities to build off things that maybe didn’t go quite as planned.”
How likely is he to be confirmed?
Mr. Trump has said that he wants Mr. Mullin to start his new position at the end of the month. Senate Republicans have enough votes to confirm Mr. Mullin on their own, although it is unclear how quick they will move.
If confirmed, Mr. Mullin could be taking over the Homeland Security Department at a turbulent moment. The department’s funding lapsed nearly three weeks ago, meaning that many employees deemed “essential” are continuing to work without pay. That includes thousands of Transportation Security Administration officers who began receiving reduced paychecks last week.
Michael Gold contributed reporting.
Madeleine Ngo covers immigration and economic policy for The Times.
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