Trump eyes axing 'horrible' Noem following damaging congressional testimony: 'Not happy with her'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has begun discussing possible replacements with Republican lawmakers, according to reports.
Multiple news outlets, including NBC News, reported the development, citing people familiar with the conversations.
The president has spoken with GOP members of Congress in recent days about his dissatisfaction with Noem’s performance and has made it clear that he is weighing whether to replace her, two Republican lawmakers and several individuals familiar with internal discussions said.
While no final decision has been made, White House officials have already begun floating potential successors in preliminary conversations.
Potential replacements for Kristi Noem emerge
Among the names being discussed are Republican Sens Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Steve Daines of Montana, according to people familiar with the talks.
According to reports, the White House has reached out to Daines’ office as part of those early discussions.
Daines recently announced that he would not seek re-election, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, a move that has fueled speculation about a possible role in the administration.
Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz also expressed interest in the position.
The former lawmaker, now a contributor at Fox News, communicated his interest directly to Trump and recently discussed the possibility of joining the administration in some capacity, according to people familiar with those conversations.
Still, sources cautioned that no replacement has been selected and that Noem’s removal is far from certain.
House and Senate hearings trigger fresh tensions
Trump’s frustration intensified this week following Noem’s testimony before House and Senate committees, where lawmakers pressed her on decisions related to immigration enforcement policies and departmental contracts.
Trump was reportedly irritated by Noem’s response when questioned about her role in approving contracts tied to a $220 million advertising campaign encouraging undocumented immigrants to self-deport.
The contracts, which were issued through a process that limited competitive bidding, drew scrutiny from lawmakers.
During questioning, Noem told Sen John Kennedy of Louisiana that Trump had been aware of her decision to approve the advertising campaign, a claim that reportedly did not sit well with the president.
Kennedy later told reporters that he had spoken directly with Trump about the exchange. “The president of the United States called me, and I’m not going to speak for him, folks,” Kennedy said. “But I would put it this way: his recollection and her recollection are different.”
Lawmakers claim Trump unhappy with Kristi Noem's testimony
Several lawmakers who spoke with Trump said the president was deeply dissatisfied with how Noem handled the hearings.
“I can assure you he is not happy with her,” one Republican lawmaker said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions. “She did horrible in the hearings and has made a lot of errors.”
Asked whether Noem might be replaced, Sen Lindsey Graham of South Carolina offered a cautious response. “Time will tell,” Graham said.
DHS defends Kristi Noem’s leadership
The US Department of Homeland Security defended Noem’s record when asked about reports of Trump’s frustrations.
“Secretary Noem serves at the pleasure of the president,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “She is honored to serve the American people and lead DHS,” he added.
The spokesperson also pointed to immigration enforcement achievements under her leadership, saying the administration has delivered “the most secure border in American history,” with millions of undocumented immigrants leaving the United States and the country recording its lowest murder rate in more than a century.
The White House declined to comment on the president’s private discussions about Noem’s future.
