Donald Trump axes Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary in top team shake-up

The shake-up, which takes effect on March 31, was announced by Mr Trump, who said Ms Noem would serve as a “special envoy for the shield of the Americas” leading a new security initiative across the western hemisphere.

The President praised the outgoing secretary while confirming the move, saying she had delivered “numerous and spectacular results”.

Ms Noem, who was dubbed “Ice Barbie”, faced sharp questioning from both Republicans and Democrats during a Senate hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday over the effectiveness of immigration enforcement operations.

Democrat congresswoman Amy Klobuchar pressed her over the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis during an immigration crackdown known as Operation Metro Surge.

Republican senator Thom Tillis also criticised Ms Noem, saying she had made “bad decisions in the heat of the moment” while leading the department.

Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about a $220million (£150million) advertising campaign promoting immigration enforcement that featured Ms Noem riding horseback with Mount Rushmore in the background.

Ms Noem told Congress the campaign had been approved through the proper legal process and signed off by the President.

However, Mr Trump later told reporters: “I never knew anything about it.”

The contract for the campaign was awarded to a firm run by the husband of Ms Noem’s former spokesman Tricia McLaughlin, though she said the decision followed a “competitive bid”.

Her relationship with Corey Lewandowski, who acted as her de facto chief of staff, also drew scrutiny after allegations the pair were having an affair - claims Ms Noem dismissed as “tabloid garbage”.

Sources within the Trump administration said a combination of the immigration raid controversy, the advertising campaign, internal management issues and the alleged relationship all contributed to her removal.

Mr Mullin, a former cage fighter who has represented Oklahoma in the Senate since 2023, said he learned of his appointment only shortly before it was announced publicly.

In a statement he said he looked forward to helping “safeguard the American people and defend the homeland”.

Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would oppose Mr Mullin’s nomination, declaring: “The rot in DHS is deep, much deeper than any individual.”

He added the Senate should not consider any DHS Secretary nominee until DHS and ICE were “reined in”.

Congressman Jamie Raskin also welcomed Ms Noem’s removal, saying the President had done what he should have done “months ago”.

He said: “Under Noem’s failed leadership, DHS turned the power of the government against the American people, our freedoms and our Constitution, and have thus turned the people against the government.”

Mr Raskin added Democrats would continue efforts to “rein in” what he described as an “out-of-control” DHS.

“The next Secretary must commit to ending the lies, lawlessness and terror that have come to define DHS under this Administration and to develop a healthy renewed commitment to national security and the rule of law,” he said.

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