President Donald Trump made a headline-grabbing move Thursday, announcing he is ousting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and replacing her with one of the Senate’s most outspoken immigration hardliners: Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin.
The pick immediately electrified supporters of Trump’s America First agenda. Mullin, a first-term senator who has served since 2023, has built a reputation in Washington as a no-nonsense conservative willing to go toe-to-toe with critics and defend Trump’s tough border policies without apology.
FULL SPEED AHEAD: The Trump White House says mass deportations will continue WITHOUT interruption after the transition at DHS to Markwayne Mullin.
Policy consistency matters. If you set a course, follow through. pic.twitter.com/bM6abhTGTO
— Michael Carbonara (@MCarbonaraFL) March 6, 2026
FULL SPEED AHEAD: The Trump White House says mass deportations will continue WITHOUT interruption after the transition at DHS to Markwayne Mullin.A former professional mixed martial artist and successful business owner before entering politics, Mullin brings a fighter’s mindset to the role — something Trump allies say fits perfectly with the administration’s aggressive push to secure the southern border and overhaul immigration enforcement.
Shortly after Trump announced the move, Mullin made his priorities clear.
“There’s a lot of work we can do to get the Department of Homeland Security working for the American people,” Mullin told reporters. “The Department of Homeland Security has a very broad jurisdiction, and I think there’s a lot of work that we need to do and I’m excited about it.”
The agency Mullin is poised to take over sits at the center of Trump’s domestic agenda. DHS is the largest and most heavily funded federal law enforcement apparatus in the country, overseeing immigration enforcement, border security, and counterterrorism efforts. During the first year of Trump’s second term, the department has faced intense scrutiny as the administration ramps up enforcement operations and pushes sweeping immigration reforms.
Meet the next Secretary of Homeland Security – Sen. Markwayne Mullin will take NO sh*t from anyone!
“‘You know where to find me, any place, any time, COWBOY.’
Sir, THIS is a time, THIS is a place. You wanna run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults. We can finish it… pic.twitter.com/uMMJuSMZmE
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) March 6, 2026
But if Mullin’s record is any indication, a softer approach is not coming.
The Oklahoma senator has repeatedly aligned himself with Trump’s most aggressive immigration proposals. After a Supreme Court decision tied to Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, Mullin argued that children born in the United States to undocumented parents should be deported alongside their families.
“Why wouldn’t you send a child with their parents?” Mullin said during a 2025 appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press. “Why would you want to separate them?”
He has also warned about what he described as a growing “industry” built around birth tourism, where foreign nationals travel to the U.S. late in pregnancy so their children will gain citizenship.
“There’s a whole industry that stood up to bring people here in their last month of pregnancy,” Mullin said. “They come here on a vacation visa, and they have a child so their child will be able to be U.S. citizens.”
Mullin has also taken a hard line on enforcement, arguing that Americans should not object to proving their citizenship if questioned by authorities.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin gives a masterclass in shutting down a snide remark from champagne socialist Bernie Sanders:
Mullin: “I ranted too long…”
Sanders: “Yes, you did!”
Mullin: “I’m sorry, I didn’t ask your opinion on that. And if I cared about your opinion, I would ask you,… pic.twitter.com/KPxoYL6E3T
— Julia
(@Jules31415) “There’s nothing to hide if you’re here legally,” he said in a recent CNBC interview.
The senator has also defended federal immigration agents involved in controversial enforcement incidents, including a fatal ICE shooting earlier this year in Minneapolis. Mullin said the officer involved had no choice but to engage when confronted with a vehicle he described as a deadly weapon.
But Mullin’s reputation in Washington isn’t just about policy — it’s about attitude.
A former college wrestler and professional MMA fighter, Mullin has carried that same combative energy onto Capitol Hill. During his time in the House of Representatives, he was known for running intense MMA-style workouts for fellow lawmakers. In a now-famous moment during a 2023 Senate hearing, Mullin even challenged Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to settle their dispute with a physical fight.
That fighting spirit also surfaced during the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Mullin later revealed he helped officers barricade the doors to the House chamber and warned rioters he would physically confront them if they broke through.
Trump says Mullin will take over as DHS secretary on March 31, when Noem steps down. However, the position requires Senate confirmation, meaning the final decision will rest with Mullin’s colleagues.
If confirmed, the Oklahoma senator will leave behind his Senate seat — and step into one of the most powerful roles in the federal government — as the Trump administration doubles down on its promise to secure the border, enforce immigration law, and put American security first.
