On the 5th, U.S. President Trump announced via social media that Senator Markwayne Mullin will replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security. The latter will step down on March 31.
According to China News Service, over the past year, Noem was responsible for advancing several controversial actions under the Trump administration, including large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants and pushing for the dissolution of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In January this year, two deadly shootings related to immigration enforcement occurred in Minnesota, making the Department of Homeland Security the focus of public criticism. Due to a deadlock between the two parties in Congress on immigration enforcement reforms, the Department of Homeland Security has been in “shutdown” since February 14.
Noem is a well-known conservative within the Republican Party. She was elected as a U.S. Representative for South Dakota in 2007 and became the state's governor in 2018, becoming the first female governor of South Dakota.
On the 5th, Trump stated that Noem “performed well and achieved many accomplishments, especially on border issues.” She will be transferred to serve as the ambassador for the “Shield of the Americas” security initiative. This initiative, focusing on the Western Hemisphere, will be announced in Florida on the 7th.
Markwayne Mullin was born in July 1977 and is the first Native American senator since 2005. Trump commented that Mullin was once a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, is good at communicating with people, and deeply understands the wisdom and courage required to advance the “America First” agenda.
Trump called Mullin the “only Native American in the Senate” on social media.
Noem is the first cabinet member to be dismissed since the start of Trump’s second term as president. The nomination of the Secretary of Homeland Security requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate, where Republican senators currently hold the majority of seats.