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Reason Trump has fired 'ICE Barbie' Kristi Noem as homeland security
The reason Kristi Noem was removed from her role as US homeland security secretary has been revealed.
President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday (March 5) in a post on Truth Social that Republican senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma would replace the 54-year-old as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security beginning on March 31, 2026.
"A MAGA Warrior, and former undefeated professional MMA fighter, Markwayne truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda," he wrote.
Noem will instead move into a new role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a security initiative Trump plans to unveil in Florida.
The 79-year-old publicly praised her while announcing the change, writing that she "has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!)".
White House Points To "Leadership Failures"
According to a White House official who spoke to NBC News, Noem’s dismissal was "a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures".
Her removal followed mounting scrutiny over a series of controversies that had piled pressure on the homeland security chief, including the fatal shootings of two US citizens by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis.
After federal agents killed Renee Nicole Good, Noem described the incident as an "act of domestic terrorism." Two weeks later, Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse.
The comments sparked outrage from many Democrats and some Republicans, particularly as questions grew about the circumstances surrounding both shootings.
Controversies And Allegations
The pressure on Noem intensified during congressional hearings in early March, where lawmakers questioned her over several issues tied to her leadership.
One key moment involved a $220m advertising campaign encouraging people in the United States illegally to leave voluntarily. The ads prominently featured Noem herself.
She told lawmakers that Trump had approved the campaign in advance. However, according to a WH spokesperson, the president "did not sign [it] off".
In addition to this, lawmakers pressed her over allegations of a personal relationship with Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager who served as a senior adviser within the department.
When asked during a hearing whether she had had "sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski", Noem dismissed the claim as "tabloid garbage," per Sky News.
A White House official also cited "allegations of infidelity" among the factors that had complicated her position.
The official said: "Kristi's drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administration's extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force."
Political Reactions After Trump's Decision
Speaking to reporters, Mullin said the appointment came as a surprise: "It’s humbling," The Guardian reported.
"Because it happened quick, I had to call my dad, and it’s just pretty humbling when you start thinking about it, a little kid from west Oklahoma getting to serve in the president’s cabinet. That is pretty neat," he added.
Democrats welcomed Noem’s removal but said the leadership change alone would not address deeper concerns about immigration enforcement.
House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said: "She was a complete and total disaster. We made clear weeks ago that Kristi Noem must be fired or she would face impeachment. Her well-deserved termination is long overdue, consistent with what we have demanded."
In a separate press conference, he said: "Good riddance. She was a disaster," adding: "A change in personnel is not sufficient. We need a change in policy that has to be bold, dramatic, transformational and meaningful."
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer echoed that view, saying: "I don’t trust any one person being in charge of this agency as long as Trump is president, given the policies he’s espoused, given how ICE has been structured. The rot is deep."
Some Republicans also suggested the move had been necessary. South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham said: "I appreciate Secretary Noem’s service to our country."
"She will do a great job dealing with the drug cartels in her new role as special envoy for the Shield of Americas, and I know she will continue to contribute in the future. However, I think it was time for a change," he penned.
In a statement on X shared after the announcement, Noem expressed gratitude to the president for appointing her to the new role, while promoting her record leading the department.
"The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security. In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security," she said.
"We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again: we delivered the MOST secure border in American history, 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., we have located 145,000 children, FEMA delivered disaster relief at a 100% faster rate, we ushered in the golden age of travel, saved the American taxpayer $13 billion and revitalized the U.S. Coast Guard," she added.