# Trump says he’s replacing Homeland Security Secretary Noem with GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [March 5, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234 "2026-03-05T19:03:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/21 "2026-03-05T21:18:21Z")
Yeah, but how does he look as a cosplay SWAT team? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/22 "2026-03-05T21:19:26Z")
> [@Win\_Place\_Show](#): > > Someone else will need to figure out how to post the jpg of him cowering inside the Capitol during the insurrection > **[Markwayne Mullin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin)** > > Markwayne Mullin (born July 26, 1977) is an American politician and businessman who has served since 2023 as the junior United States senator from Oklahoma. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in a special election in 2022 to serve the remainder of Jim Inhofe's term. > A member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin is the first Native American U.S. senator since Ben Nighthorse Campbell retired in 2005. He is also the second Cherokee citizen elected to the Senate since 1925. From 2013 to ... > During the [January 6 United States Capitol attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack), Mullin and Representatives [Troy Nehls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Nehls) (a former sheriff and Army veteran) and [Pat Fallon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Fallon) (an Air Force veteran) helped [U.S. Capitol Police](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Capitol_Police) build barricades and protect the doors to the House Chamber from the rioters.[[45]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin#cite_note-45) He and many of his colleagues were later ushered to a secure location, where he declined offers to wear a mask, in violation of House rules.[[46]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin#cite_note-46)[[47]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin#cite_note-47) Mullin said that he witnessed the shooting of Trump supporter [Ashli Babbitt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashli_Babbitt) during the attack, which occurred after she climbed through a barricade leading toward the House Chamber; Mullin said the Capitol police officer had no choice but to shoot, and that this action saved people’s lives, with members of Congress and their staff in danger from the mob.[[48]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin#cite_note-Mullin-48)[[49]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin#cite_note-49)[[50]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin#cite_note-50)[[51]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markwayne_Mullin#cite_note-51) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/23 "2026-03-05T21:19:46Z")
Responding to you and later posts that made essentially the same point. There will be a gap of time between his confirmation and the appointment of a new Senator. Obviously, it will be another Republican. And almost as obviously, Mullin will be confirmed. In the interim, and even later, multiple interesting - in the political sense - events. First, DHS hasn’t been funded and we’re in a government shutdown. No normal president would fire the Secretary at this moment unless she shot her dog or something. Does Trump think that nominating a Senator will change the dynamic? When will the confirmation hearings take place? Can they be done before a DHS vote? And the hearings will be rugged; Democrats will dredge up every failure HS has had and grill Mullin on his plans and what changes he’ll make. If none, that exonerates Noem; if many, that hurts Trump. He’ll be walking a fine line to avoid those traps. As an idiot he may lack the skills. Speaking of which, what qualifications does he have other than Trump saying that he loves watching Mullin on television? Not that qualifications matter any more, but he’ll be flayed for a national audience and microscoped in office. So say he gets in. He was a five-term Congressman - after vowing to step down after three terms - and won elections by real, not Trumpian, landslides, but never ran for the Senate. No doubt Gov. Stitt will appoint a lackey, but the seat is up for election in November. This throws OK politics into a turmoil. And however much Stitt hurries, a hole is open for the Democrats to exploit. Out of all the people in the party whom Trump likes to watch on television, Mullin’s nomination is a weird choice. What was Trump thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/24 "2026-03-05T21:24:16Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Great news, guys! Our new Secretary of Homeland Security has an associates degree in construction and…yeah, that’s it. Right when things are about to hit the fan, we’ll have nothing but the most qualified individuals to keep our homeland safe and sound! But he’s 3-0 in MMA fights. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/25 "2026-03-05T22:36:07Z")
I would have thought being a senator would have more of a future and be more prestigious than being in this clown car cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/26 "2026-03-05T22:47:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Three good things about Mullen: > > He is Native American. > > He helped defend the Capitol during the January 6 attempted insurrection. > > He isnt Noem. Four things: - He never shot his dog (as far as we know). ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/27 "2026-03-05T22:54:19Z")
**Moderating:** > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Sec. Billybob Mullet 🙂 > [@jsc1953](#): > > Yeah, but how does he look as a cosplay SWAT team? > [@Loach](#): > > But he’s 3-0 in MMA fights. > [@wolfpup](#): > > He never shot his dog (as far as we know). Enough with the cracks folks, this is a P&E thread. If you are _only_ posting to make the crack, rather than an actual discussion of the subject, please reconsider. This sort of stuff should really be in the Pit, and we’ve already got one on Noem if you don’t want to spin off a new one. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/28 "2026-03-05T23:06:05Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I would have thought being a senator would have more of a future and be more prestigious than being in this clown car cabinet. When the President/head of your party/leader of your cult says, “I want you to take this job,” saying “no” is probably not an option. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/29 "2026-03-05T23:30:12Z")
I hope they play the clip of Mullin trying to start a fight with the head of the Teamsters at his confirmation hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/30 "2026-03-06T02:08:07Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Inhofe resigned for health reasons (and then later died) OH… And a man of principles… ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/31 "2026-03-06T03:17:50Z")
Does anyone else here remember when Markwayne challenged an official to a fistfight, and was stopped by, of all people, BERNIE SANDERS? Here’s what someone on The Daily Show had to say about it, and him. You don’t need TikTok to watch this. https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7301513455419313450 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/32 "2026-03-06T03:44:22Z")
How is his (1/28 ) Native American ancestry good or bad? He may have helped to keep the J6 rioters at bay but he’s an election denier, so that cancels that out. I’ll give the fact that he isn’t Noem. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/33 "2026-03-06T03:50:31Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I’ll give the fact that he isn’t Noem. I can only characterize this news as “What fresh hell is this?” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/34 "2026-03-06T04:09:19Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This is his first cabinet replacement in his second term which is pretty impressive given the last one In his first term, Trump apparently did listen (somewhat) to advisors who were trying to help him form an actual, functional government – remember when people who used to talk about “the adults in the room” who would help curb Trump’s worst impulses? His first cabinet had people like Jeff Sessions, John Kelly, Jim Mattis, and Rex Tillerson: many of them may have been terrible people, but they were actually qualified for their jobs; they ultimately wore out their welcome, and got sacked by Trump because they weren’t yes-men. (Though, yes, he also had people like Ben Carson and Betsy DeVos, who had no business being in the jobs he gave them.) This time around, he’s entirely gone for sycophants and true believers; qualifications aren’t required. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/35 "2026-03-06T05:57:44Z")
Mullin definitely fits the “sycophants and true believers” category. > **[The Five Craziest Things Trump’s New Pick for DHS Secretary Has Said](https://newrepublic.com/post/207419/who-is-markwayne-mullin-dhs-secretary)** > > Who is Markwayne Mullin, the new nominee for homeland security secretary? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/36 "2026-03-06T08:01:15Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I’ll give the fact that he isn’t Noem. That is a low Mariana Trench to jump. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/37 "2026-03-06T14:06:14Z")
When they go around the cabinet room and take turns heaping praise on trump, I expect his submission to be folksy and homespun. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/38 "2026-03-06T15:15:30Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > In addition, unless the Governor appoints a caretaker and lets the seat be open which is unlikely, whomever he chooses will almost certainly be the new Senator and will be from the hard Right. According to [this article from The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5769909-markwayne-mullin-oklahoma-senate-vacancy/), the apppointed replacement is actually barred from running for the seat in the next election: > It requires that the appointee be a registered Oklahoma voter in the same party as the previous senator — in this case, a Republican — for at least five years. They are also barred from running for the office in the next special or general election. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > There will be a gap of time between his confirmation and the appointment of a new Senator. Obviously, it will be another Republican. And almost as obviously, Mullin will be confirmed. The article doesn’t say anything about the appointment requiring any confirmation or approval by anyone else, so presumably the seat could be vacant for only a day or two. It’s not like the Senate will hold up swearing in a Republican replacement, like the House did with Grijalva. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/39 "2026-03-06T15:23:25Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > The article doesn’t say anything about the appointment requiring any confirmation or approval by anyone else, so presumably the seat could be vacant for only a day or two I believe the post meant Mullin’s confirmation may be the sticking point. He will likely wait for confirmation, rather than pre-emptively vacating the seat. Of course, given the situation, it’s still overwhelmingly likely Gov Stitt will have a replacement ready and waiting to be sworn. Or probably already has one. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234/40 "2026-03-06T15:27:10Z")
Mullin doesn’t have to resign until he’s confirmed, and if he’s somehow not confirmed, he can keep his Senate seat. The governor will have a replacement ready by then, so my point is there’s no risk to the Republicans as Exapno is speculating about, the seat will be vacant for a day at most, more likely an hour or two. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-says-he-s-replacing-homeland-security-secretary-noem-with-gop-sen-markwayne-mullin/1028234.md?page=3)