Donald Trump has been reaching out to Republican lawmakers to gauge opinions on potentially dismissing the Secretary of Homeland Security, according to multiple GOP insiders who have been in discussions with the former president.
Trump’s outreach followed intense scrutiny of Kristi Noem by Republican members during her appearances before the Senate and House Judiciary committees earlier this week.
During a recent leadership retreat in Fort Lauderdale, House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly suggested the possibility of a leadership change within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Nevertheless, the idea of replacing the DHS Secretary faces complications, as Republicans are concerned about securing the necessary 51 votes for Senate confirmation of a new appointee, as reported by Punchbowl News.
The president’s frustration was particularly heightened by Noem’s responses to Senator John Kennedy, who questioned her on the failed immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis and the $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign aimed at enhancing her national image.
The campaign featured a dramatic advertisement in which the former South Dakota Governor was shown riding horseback at Mount Rushmore and alongside a herd of bison, wearing a cowboy hat. The lucrative contract was awarded to an LLC that subcontracted a company led by the husband of DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, who has since stepped down from her position.
Noem squirmed under the Louisiana senator’s slow-burning, honeyed 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.
Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday
The cinematic ad showed the former South Dakota Governor on horseback at Mount Rushmore
The cinematic ad showed Noem galloping beside a stampede of bison in a cowboy hat
Noem replied: ‘Yes sir, we went through the legal processes.’
Kennedy shot back: ‘Did the President know you were gonna do this?’
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.’
That wasn’t the only brutal exchange with a top Republican that garnered headlines.
Thom Tillis then unleashed a finger-jabbing tirade, branding her tenure a ‘disaster’ and demanding she quit on the spot.
The North Carolina Republican bore down on her for refusing to accept responsibility for the killing of protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis in January, which Trump sidelined her over.
The Homeland Security Secretary wore a gold watch and a $700 Veronica Beard double-breasted tweed blazer
Kristi Noem’s husband, Bryon, could be seen sitting behind his wife with a deadpan expression as she faced continued grilling over her relationship with Corey Lewandowski
Corey Lewandowski attends the election night watch party for Donald Trump at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on November 5, 2024
‘What we’ve seen is a disaster! Under your leadership, Ms Noem – a disaster!’ Tillis shouted. ‘What we’ve seen is innocent people being detained.’
The next day, Democratic lawmakers at the House hearing were even less sparing in their attacks.
The married mother-of-three was asked point-blank whether she was sleeping with her top aide Corey Lewandowski, who is himself married.
‘At any time during your tenure as director of Department of Homeland Security, have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?’, asked Democratic Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
Noem was furious, calling her claims ‘offensive’ and dismissing them as ‘tabloid garbage.’
The Daily Mail exclusively revealed last year that Noem and Lewandowski are engaged in an affair. They deny a romantic relationship.
Trump is said to have been well aware of the pair during the campaign, and ‘would raise an eyebrow mischievously’ about their relationship, according to journalist Alex Isenstadt’s book Revenge.
Kristi Noem arrives to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on ‘Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,’ on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Wednesday
Noem testifies before the House Judiciary Committee
‘Lewandowski knew how to bat out of his league,’ Trump remarked to aides.
Republicans are divided over whether now is the right moment, amid fears the GOP’s slim six-seat majority would be stretched dangerously thin in any confirmation fight.
Any replacement nominee would face a brutal confirmation gauntlet, with moderate Republican senators already itching to register their unease over the President’s deadly immigration crackdown.
Others have warned Trump that pulling the trigger on Noem in the midst of a DHS funding shutdown, now in its 19th day, would hand Democrats a significant negotiating win.
The White House declined to comment.
A spokesman for DHS said: ‘The domestic ad campaign has been the most successful ad campaign in US history … The ad campaign saved the US taxpayers over $39 billion.’
