President Trump fires top ally days after $300 million jet scandal
She's faced questions about ICE shootings, Rolex watches, and killing her family dog
It's all change at the White House, and while there are fears that we're heading into World War III in the aftermath of Operation Epic Fury, Iran isn't the only thing President Donald Trump has to worry about.
Despite President Donald Trump's stirring State of the Union address painting a strong picture of unity among the Republican Party, it wasn't just a number of vocal Democrats causing trouble that had tongues wagging about dissent in the ranks.
With continued concerns that the USA could be about to trigger WWIII, President Trump also has to deal with finding a new head for the Department of Homeland Security, although it looks like he's already done it. Although she stepped up to the plate when the POTUS returned to the White House in January 2025, Kristi Noem is officially out as the 8th United States secretary of homeland security.
Why did Donald Trump fire Kristi Noem?
Kristi Noem had become the face of immigration enforcement, although she was criticized because those in her position don't typically engage in active field duty. She was influential in effectively closing the US-Mexico border and triumphantly claimed that 1.6 million 'unauthorized immigrants' had been deported by August 2025.
Posting on Truth Social, President Trump says that Noem has "served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!)" He added that while Noem is leaving her current position, she's expected to become Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas. This is a mysterious new security initiative that the POTUS is almost ready to reveal.
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A source told CNN that Noem's firing was actually due to some 'leadership failures' and that it was simply her "time to go". They told the outlet: "Replacing Kristi was based on the culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff, and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE."
They also raised a few eyebrows when they concluded: "Kristi’s drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administration’s extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force."
The seemingly bold move comes just days after Noem was caught in a scandal over the Department of Homeland Security's spending.
Republican Senator John Kennedy grilled Noem at a congressional hearing, leading to questions about a $220 million ad campaign. When asked about whether President Trump had approved the spending, Noem delivered a killer, "Mmhmm, yes.”
Speaking to CNN, Kennedy said the president "was p*ssed."
Her firing also comes just days after she was caught in the crossfire of questioning over the purchase of two Gulfstream G700 luxury jets and plans to acquire a Boeing 737 for an estimated total of $300 million.
When shown images of a supposedly plush bedroom on one of the jets and asked to defend these seemingly lavish purchases, Noem claimed it would save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and said it was being "refurbished."
Who is the new head of Homeland Security?
This wasn't Noem's only scandal, with the former secretary of homeland security facing backlash when she wore a $50,000 Rolex to a visit to El Salvador's notorious Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) mega-prison.
There was further outrage when she admitted in her memoir that she once killed the family dog, as well as the infamous 'blanketgate' scandal, and continued calls for her resignation following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
With Noem out, her replacement is already waiting in the wings.
While the US Senate still has to approve it, Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin is due to take Noem's vacant position at the end of March 2026.
President Trump referred to Mullin as a 'MAGA warrior', with his reputation as a former MMA fighter following him. Some are already questioning his appointment, with Mullin remembered as the man who once challenged a union leader to a fight during a congressional hearing.
As a new era of Homeland Security looms, it remains to be seen whether its next boss faces as much drama as Noem.