US President to pick ex-MMA fighter as Homeland Security Secretary
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump said that by the end of March, Republican Senator and former MMA fighter Markwayne Mullin will become the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, according to ABC News and official publications by officials and journalists.
What Trump and the White House spokesperson said
The head of the White House announced that Markwayne Mullin will replace Kristi Noem in this position. In social networks, he wrote that he was happy to announce that the respected US senator from the state of Oklahoma… will become US Secretary of Homeland Security from March 31, 2026.
“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at 'Homeland,'” Trump wrote.
He added that Markwayne, having worked for 10 years in the US House of Representatives and 3 years in the Senate, did tremendous work representing the state of Oklahoma, where Trump won in all 77 out of 77 counties in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
The US leader also emphasized that Markwayne, a former professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, gets along well with people and has the wisdom and courage needed to promote America First.
“Markwayne will work tirelessly to keep our border secure, stop migrant crime ... scourge of illegal drugs, and make America safe again,” Trump added.
Later, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the same information, expressing Trump’s gratitude to Noem for her work, adding that he hopes she will continue working in her new role as special envoy for the protection of the Americas.
She also noted that the White House will work with the Senate to secure the fastest possible confirmation of Mullin’s candidacy for the position of Secretary of Homeland Security.
Why Noem was removed and how Mullin reacted
News that Mullin would replace Noem emerged after several sources told ABC News that Donald Trump had been calling Republicans and his key allies to ask whether he should fire her.
According to sources, Trump was deeply disappointed by Kristi Noem's testimony during Tuesday's hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In particular, the president was upset by one specific moment when Republican Senator John Kennedy asked Noem about a $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign. The official repeatedly said that Trump knew about the campaign and had approved it.
However, a Trump administration official told ABC that the president did not approve the advertising campaign.
Sources added that Tuesday’s hearings were only the latest in a series of incidents that raised concerns among Trump administration officials and some Republicans in Congress.
Meanwhile, Markwayne Mullin told journalists that he did not expect the call. He also added that he had not yet spoken with Noem but called her a friend.
What else did Trump do and say during his presidency
US President Donald Trump has taken various steps in different areas of his policy.
For example, at the beginning of December, he replaced the architect for the new ballroom wing of the White House. Moreover, the project's cost increased from $200 million to $350 million.
We also reported that in early January, the US conducted a special operation in Venezuela aimed at overthrowing the government of Nicolás Maduro. Afterwards, he named a group of officials who would help oversee US involvement in the situation in Venezuela, stating that he would be in charge.
