Trump Taps Oklahoma’s Mullin for Homeland Security After Firing Noem

President Trump has nominated Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security after dismissing Kristi Noem on Thursday. The 48-year-old former business owner and mixed martial arts fighter has built a reputation as one of Trump's most vocal supporters in the Senate.

President Donald Trump has selected Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin to serve as his next Homeland Security Secretary, marking a rapid political ascent for the former plumbing business owner who entered Congress just over a decade ago.

The 48-year-old senator has established himself as one of Trump’s most vocal allies in the upper chamber and is set to join the administration following Thursday’s dismissal of Kristi Noem, who faced growing scrutiny regarding her department leadership.

With a background in mixed martial arts and collegiate wrestling, Mullin has cultivated an aggressive approach in the Senate and strengthened his relationship with Trump after they attended an NCAA wrestling match together in Tulsa during 2023.

“Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account.

A member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin secured Oklahoma’s open Senate seat in 2022 after prevailing in a competitive Republican primary. Before entering politics, he operated a thriving plumbing business in Oklahoma featuring distinctive red vehicles branded with “The Red Rooter” signage, launching his initial House campaign as an anti-establishment candidate frustrated with government red tape affecting his business operations.

He eventually captured Oklahoma’s expansive 2nd Congressional District, a rural territory that shifted from Democratic control to increasingly conservative representation over the past ten years.

Mullin’s confrontational Senate moments include a heated 2023 committee session with International Brotherhood of Teamsters leadership, during which he challenged the union chief to “stand your butt up” while rising from his chair and removing his ring.

“If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults,” Mullin declared to Sean O’Brien, the union’s president, following their previous social media disputes. “We can finish it here.”

The senator originally pledged to limit himself to three congressional terms but abandoned that commitment when seeking reelection, acknowledging he “didn’t understand politics” when making his initial promise.

Mullin has also drawn scrutiny for accepting approximately $1.8 million through federal pandemic relief programs intended to support struggling small businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

Treasury Department records revealed that four companies under Mullin’s ownership collected between $800,000 and $1.9 million through the Paycheck Protection Program. His spokesperson previously stated the congressman wasn’t involved in daily business operations and directed inquiries to the companies’ financial officer.

The senator has embraced his Cherokee Nation heritage and championed issues affecting tribal communities, including defending tribal sovereignty rights. He also campaigned for Trump among Native American voters in North Carolina during the 2024 election cycle.