Why did Sen Markwayne Mullin have a pink ball at the DHS hearing? Here’s the story behind it
WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Markwayne Mullin brought his signature pink rubber ball to his Wednesday, March 18, hearing, a personal comfort object he has carried since childhood.
The Oklahoma Republican, picked by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security, kept the ball on his desk throughout the high-stakes meeting.
Markwayne Mullin’s pink ball habit explained
If you hear a quiet "boing" in the halls of the US Capitol, everyone knows it is Senator Markwayne Mullin.
He carries a pink rubber bouncy ball everywhere he goes, and it sat right between his phone and his papers during his hearing.
The senator once explained the habit to a group of visitors, saying, "This is my pacifier. I’ve carried a ball since I was in middle school. And I don’t know why."
People have often asked him about the ball, including Fox News host Sean Hannity, who once noted, "He carries this ball everywhere. I’m not sure what this is. Is this like a blanket, or what?"
A few weeks ago, Mullin joked that he might put the ball in a time capsule for future generations. However, it was clearly a joke, as he is very attached to it, and the rubber would not meet the rules for items allowed in the capsule.
Markwayne Mullin faces tough DHS confirmation questions
Markwayne Mullin was seen holding the rubber ball during his confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, after President Trump nominated him to replace Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary.
During the hearing, which lasted more than three hours, Mullin argued that the Department of Homeland Security needs its funding restored. He also promised to move the agency past the constant scandals that kept it in the headlines while Noem was in charge.
Even with the pink ball nearby, the hearing remained serious as Mullin answered questions about the government's plan for mass deportations.
He also faced tough questions about the deaths of two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Mullin admitted he was wrong to originally call Pretti "a deranged individual."
Markwayne Mullin urges DHS funding amid standoff
In his opening speech, Mullin argued that it is vital to fund DHS, especially as the White House and Congress have been in a month-long standoff over the agency's budget.
Mullin warned that whether the delay is caused by "political theater" or real disagreements, the government is "playing with fire" by leaving the agency without funding.
He highlighted that 280,000 employees have gone 30 days without a paycheck but continue to work anyway. He praised their dedication, saying, "We should all be proud of, and we should all be working together. We should all be trying to fund them."
