This is the excruciating moment that Kristi Noem was introduced on stage to tout Donald Trump’s achievements just 20 minutes after he announced her firing.
The Homeland Security Secretary was speaking to law enforcement officers at the Sergeant Benevolent Association Major Cities Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, as the news broke on Thursday.
Noem spoke in glowing terms about the Trump agenda and did not immediately respond to her firing. It was not clear whether the audience was aware of her firing as she responded to a Q&A.
‘In his State of the Union Address just last week, President Trump reminded us what it is every Americans duty to do and that is to serve the American people,’ Noem said, leaving her audience oblivious to her feelings about the recent personal blow.
The ousted Homeland chief wore a poker face giving little away, though she did flash smile when one of the cops told her that she was his ‘dream woman.’
Trump just moments earlier announced on Truth Social that he was nominating Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem.
Noem faced a drubbing before the Senate and House Judiciary Committee’s on Tuesday and Wednesday where she was confronted by Republicans over the deadly immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, lavish spending, and her relationship with rumored lover Corey Lewandowski.
The ‘last straw’ for Trump came when Noem told Senator John Kennedy under oath that she’d been given the President’s approval for a $220 million taxpayer-funded campaign designed to boost her national profile. ‘I never knew anything about it,’ Trump told Reuters in an interview.
This is the brutal moment that Kristi Noem was introduced on stage to tout Donald Trump’s achievements just 20 minutes after he announced her firing
Trump (pictured in the White House Thursday) just moments earlier announced on Truth Social that he was nominating Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem
The ‘last straw’ for Trump came when Noem told Senator John Kennedy under oath that she’d been given the President’s approval for a $220 million taxpayer-funded campaign designed to boost her national profile (pictured). ‘I never knew anything about it,’ Trump told Reuters in an interview
Trump wrote on Truth Social: ‘I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026.
‘The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at “Homeland.”‘
The cinematic advert showed the former South Dakota governor on horseback at Mount Rushmore and galloping beside a stampede of bison in a cowboy hat.
The huge contract was awarded to an LLC, which subcontracted with a firm run by the husband of DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, who has since resigned.
Noem squirmed under the Louisiana senator’s slow-burning drawl as he methodically dismantled her defense line by line.
‘The President approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?’ Kennedy asked.
Noem replied: ‘Yes sir, we went through the legal processes.’
Kennedy shot back: ‘Did the President know you were gonna do this?’
The cinematic ad showed Noem galloping beside a stampede of bison in a cowboy hat
The Homeland Security Secretary wore a gold watch and a $700 Veronica Beard double-breasted tweed blazer
Noem testifies before the House Judiciary Committee
Noem claimed that Trump did, and Kennedy, his voice rising in mock astonishment, asked again: ‘He did?’
The Homeland chief replied: ‘Uh huh, yes.’
Kennedy told Noem that the adverts were ‘effective in your name recognition. To me, it puts the President in a terribly awkward spot.’
Officials within DHS and ICE are celebrating the news of Noem’s departure, sources have revealed to the Daily Mail.
One DHS source told the Daily Mail staff that in the department’s headquarters are cheering the news: ‘Everyone is happy, lots of smiles.’
‘Morale had taken a hit. There’s a feeling among a lot of folks here that the department can finally reset and refocus on operations instead of internal turmoil.’
There’s also an expectation that Corey Lewandowski will follow her out the door. ‘He will go because he knows Mullin will toss him.’ It is unclear if the advisor will depart DHS along with the secretary.
Another DHS insider said Trump had been preparing to fire her for days, but that her performance Tuesday ‘gave him cover’ to do so immediately.
Meanwhile, an ICE official at the department’s headquarters told Daily Mail, ‘Crowds are celebrating. Lots of phone calls. Texts. People stopping by to celebrate.’
