Trump dismisses Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

US President Donald Trump has dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, following growing criticism of her leadership on immigration enforcement and disaster response.

Trump announced that he intends to nominate Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as Noem’s successor.

The announcement came via social media shortly after a two-day congressional hearing, where lawmakers from both parties grilled the nominee with tough questions.

Noem, a close ally of Trump, had overseen large-scale deportations of undocumented immigrants. However, her tenure faced scrutiny over departmental spending and her handling of incidents, including the deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis earlier this year.

Despite her dismissal, Trump praised Noem’s tenure, noting her “excellent work” and “significant accomplishments” in border security. He added that she will be appointed as a special envoy for a new security initiative, “Shield of the Americas,” aimed at strengthening security in the Western Hemisphere.

Following the announcement, Noem spoke at a law enforcement event in Nashville, Tennessee, but did not comment on her removal. Later, she thanked Trump on social media for her new assignment and highlighted her accomplishments during her tenure at the Department of Homeland Security.

She wrote, “We achieved historic success at the Department of Homeland Security in making America safe again.”