U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks to the media outside the White House in Washington, DC. U.S., January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
The rumor mill was spinning fast on Thursday as news reports from multiple outlets revealed President Donald Trump was considering firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Within hours, he did, announcing the nomination of U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as her replacement.
Some critics pointed to Noem's damaging testimony before Congress this week, when she declared that President Trump had approved her spending $220 million in an ad campaign that, as one GOP senator said, boosted her name recognition. On Thursday, Trump told Reuters, "I never knew anything about it."
The Wall Street Journal reported that the "final straw for Trump was Noem’s combative hearing Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The president watched the testimony and was apoplectic about her performance, telling advisers that evening he would remove her from the job, according to people familiar with the matter."
But according to NBC News, Noem was not fired only because of her testimony.
"An administration official told NBC News that the president decided to fire Noem due to 'a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff, and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE,'" the news outlet reported.
The allegations of infidelity were in full swing during her congressional testimony, as U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) grilled the DHS chief.
"Secretary Noem, at any time during your tenure…have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?" the Congresswoman asked.
"That is garbage and it is offensive that you have brought that up," Noem responded..
"It is about your judgment and decision-making," Kamlager-Dove replied.
Lewandowski, according to Fox News, is also expected to exit DHS.
FOX: Corey Lewandowski expected to leave with Kristi Noem pic.twitter.com/jA4uzFxxNX
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 5, 2026
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