Bulwark Takes BOMBSHELL: Trump Fires DHS Sec. Noem; Sen. Mullin Tapped as Replacement
Mar 5, 2026
A fast-paced breakdown of Kristi Noem's sudden ouster from DHS and the dramatic public firing that followed. Discussion of the Kennedy hearing that exposed DHS spending and the possible setup behind it. A close look at Markwayne Mullin as the pick to replace her and what his record suggests for DHS tactics. Political fallout for Noem and how this reshapes 2028 calculations.
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Trump Publicly Humiliated Kristi Noem
- Donald Trump announced Kristi Noem's firing by social post while she was onstage in Nashville.
- Tim Miller and others framed it as a public humiliation ritual highlighting Trump's preference for spectacle over private transitions.
Ads Not Atrocities Triggered Trump's Anger
- Noem's ad campaign featuring her prominently reportedly angered Trump after she told senators he approved it.
- Andrew Egger argued that claiming Trump signed off on those ads was the proximate cause of his decision to remove her.
Noem's Decade Chasing Trump's Favor
- JVL recounted Noem's decade-long climb into Trump's shadow and how she did everything he asked, even possibly breaking laws.
- He emphasized her loyalty didn't protect her from Trump's theatrical dismissal onstage.