President Donald Trump has privately asked Republican lawmakers whether he should fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following a series of bruising congressional hearings this week, according to multiple GOP figures who spoke with Punchbowl News.
The conversations reportedly took place after Noem testified before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, where she faced pointed questioning over the administration’s immigration crackdown and a controversial government-funded advertising campaign tied to the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump was said to be particularly irritated by Noem’s exchange with Senator John Kennedy (R-LA). During the hearing, Kennedy pressed the DHS secretary on whether the president had personally approved a $220 million advertising campaign that prominently featured Noem. President Donald Trump has reportedly floated Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as a possible replacement for Noem.
Kennedy repeatedly asked whether Trump had signed off on the effort and warned that the situation could politically backfire on the president. He cautioned that the campaign risked putting Trump “in a terribly awkward spot.”
The Louisiana Republican also questioned why the advertising contract was awarded to a firm run by the husband of Noem’s former DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Noem also drew criticism from Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), who has publicly called for her resignation and threatened to slow Senate business until his questions about the department are answered.
Meanwhile, House Democrats pressed Noem about her relationship with senior adviser Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager. Noem declined to engage with the line of questioning, dismissing the allegations as “tabloid garbage.”
The controversy has intensified speculation that Noem’s position in the administration may be increasingly precarious. Rumors about tension between Trump and Noem have circulated in Washington for weeks, fueled by concerns among some Republicans about the rollout of the DHS advertising campaign and the political scrutiny it has attracted.
Some GOP lawmakers reportedly worry that the issue has become an unnecessary distraction for the administration, particularly as Republicans attempt to keep focus on border enforcement and immigration policy.
At the same time, Republicans are divided over whether removing Noem would help resolve the situation. Several lawmakers told Punchbowl that forcing her out during an ongoing funding standoff involving DHS could further complicate matters.
Others have cautioned that replacing her could trigger a contentious Senate confirmation battle for any successor — a prospect that could prolong the political turmoil surrounding the department.
