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How Kristi Noem finally lost Trump — and her job

Trump removed Noem and chose Mullin as her successor, amid conflicting accounts of his knowledge of the advertising campaign.

How Kristi Noem finally lost Trump — and her job
Image · CNN

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Outlet credibilityCNN84/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 9, 2026
CNN
Mar 6, 2026
tl;dr

President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and selected Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her after a series of controversies, including scrutiny of a $220 million advertising campaign. Mullin’s appointment would put a senator with strong ties to Trump’s immigration agenda in charge of the department.

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37 VOTES
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Donald Trump R · President of the United States
● OPEN

People in this story

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Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who fired Noem and selected Mullin to replace her

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Markwayne Mullin
Secretary of Homeland Security

Senator selected by Trump to replace Noem as Homeland Security secretary

Mullin's version of this story ↗
Kristi Noem
Former U.S. Representative (R-SD)

Homeland Security secretary fired by Trump

Noem's version of this story ↗
Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

Senator who praised Mullin after his selection

John Kennedy
R · LA · SEN

Senator who questioned Noem about the advertising campaign

ALSO MENTIONED  Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s unpaid subordinate, named in an alleged relationship that both deny; Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol official associated with immigration enforcement operations; Tom Homan, White House border czar involved in immigration enforcement

Part of a bigger story

32 OUTLETS
Trump Names Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security Nominee

Outlets agree that Trump announced Senator Markwayne Mullin as his choice to replace Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary. Left-leaning outlets foreground controversies around Noem’s tenure and immigration enforcement. Center outlets mainly report the personnel change, its context and the confirmation process. Right-leaning outlets emphasize support for Mullin and his border-security or immigration-enforcement priorities.

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