Trump grows increasingly frustrated with Markwayne Mullin over 'off-message remarks': Report

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin over a series of public remarks and policy decisions that have been viewed as out of step with the administration’s immigration agenda, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. 

The concerns have reportedly grown in recent weeks, although a senior administration official said Trump does not currently plan to fire Mullin. Mullin, a former Republican senator from Oklahoma and longtime Trump ally, took over the Department of Homeland Security in March after Trump dismissed former Chief Kristi Noem.

Markwayne Mullin’s immigration remarks draw backlash 

According to the report, Trump’s frustration with Mullin intensified after his address at the National Governors Association in Oklahoma City in early August, where the DHS secretary said that while the narrative that immigration “steals American jobs is true in some industries, it’s not true for all industries” and suggested immigration could help address low labor-force participation in some parts of the country.

The comments drew criticism from some of Trump’s outside supporters, who viewed them as inconsistent with the administration’s emphasis on deportations and reducing illegal immigration. Conservative activist Laura Loomer publicly called for the president to fire Mullin, writing on social media that he has “done absolutely nothing to increase the rate of mass deportations." 

The episode followed other disagreements between Mullin and the president. After two fatal shootings involving immigrants within a week, Mullin temporarily halted most vehicle stops by federal immigration officials.

Trump reversed the policy the following day, with an administration official saying the president was frustrated that he had not been informed about the change beforehand.

Trump was also reportedly frustrated that Mullin wanted to cancel the Fourth of July fireworks display on the National Mall in the midst of lightning. Trump then said in his speech that evening that one of his advisers suggested postponing the celebrations, but the administration overruled.

“One of my very brilliant people backstage said, ‘Don’t worry about it, sir. We can do it maybe next week,’” Trump said. “I said, ‘It doesn’t work next week. This is the big day. We want July Fourth. We’re not looking for July something else.’”

DHS faces internal tensions over immigration strategy

Mullin also drew scrutiny in June after the Supreme Court ruled that the administration could end temporary immigration protections for roughly 350,000 Haitians living in the United States. During an interview, Mullin said some affected individuals could potentially remain in the country through permanent legal status.

Yes, we're ending the temporary protective status, because it's temporary. But that doesn't mean that while you're here under a temporary protective status, you can't try to change your status," he said. The remarks were viewed by some administration officials as inconsistent with the White House’s messaging following the Supreme Court ruling. 

A White House spokeswoman, Lauren Bis, didn’t mention Mullin directly in a statement but said that Trump “has confidence in his Cabinet to carry out the agenda the American people voted for.” A DHS spokeswoman similarly said the department is “one team, and we have one fight.”