Trump Personally Calls Mullin to Tap Him as Next Homeland Security Secretary
Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) is set to become the next Secretary of Homeland Security after President Donald Trump personally called him Thursday to deliver the news — a call Mullin admitted left him more than a little stunned.
'I am super excited about this opportunity. It came — not as a complete surprise — but it came at a little bit of a surprise,' Mullin told reporters shortly after receiving the presidential call, visibly energized by the unexpected elevation to one of the most powerful Cabinet positions in the United States government.
Noem Out, Mullin In: What Happened?
The announcement comes on the heels of the abrupt ousting of Kristi Noem, the former South Dakota Governor who had served as DHS Secretary. Noem's tenure was marked by controversy almost from the start, including fierce criticism over her handling of border security operations and a damaging media cycle surrounding her 2024 memoir. Her removal signals a dramatic reshuffling of Trump's Cabinet security apparatus as his administration pushes deeper into its second term agenda.
Mullin, 47, is a Republican firebrand known for his combative style and unwavering loyalty to Trump. A former MMA fighter and plumbing business owner from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mullin has built a reputation in the Senate as someone who does not shy away from confrontation — a trait many Trump allies say makes him perfectly suited to run the sprawling 240,000-employee department responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, disaster response, and counterterrorism.
A Fighter for a Fighting-Fit Department
If confirmed by the Senate, Mullin would oversee a department with an annual budget exceeding $60 billion and jurisdiction over agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), FEMA, and the Secret Service. The role is arguably one of the most operationally demanding in the entire executive branch.
Sources close to the White House say Trump was drawn to Mullin's no-nonsense persona and his vocal support for aggressive immigration enforcement — a cornerstone of the Trump administration's second-term policy platform. Mullin has consistently backed Trump's calls for mass deportations and the completion of physical border barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Senate Confirmation Battle Ahead
While Mullin's confirmation in the Republican-controlled Senate is expected to move relatively smoothly, Democrats are already sharpening their arguments against him. Critics are likely to highlight his lack of executive management experience overseeing a department of DHS's scale and complexity, as well as past controversies during his Senate tenure, including a 2023 Senate hearing altercation that went viral after Mullin challenged a Teamsters union president to a physical fight on the Senate floor.
'The Department of Homeland Security needs steady, experienced leadership — not a political brawler looking for his next spotlight moment,' said one Democratic Senate aide, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'We will scrutinize this nomination very closely.'
What's Next
Mullin's formal nomination paperwork is expected to be submitted to the Senate within days, triggering the confirmation hearing process before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. If confirmed, he would vacate his Oklahoma Senate seat, likely triggering a special election or gubernatorial appointment to fill his remaining term.
For now, Mullin appears ready to embrace the challenge. 'I've never backed down from a tough fight,' he said Thursday. 'And keeping this country safe is the toughest and most important fight there is.'
The White House has not yet issued a formal statement beyond Trump's social media post announcing the selection, but administration insiders say the President made the decision quickly and decisively — very much in keeping with his management style.
