A sudden shake-up at the Department of Homeland Security unfolded Thursday after President Donald Trump publicly contradicted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over a costly advertising campaign — and then abruptly removed her from office.
The dispute centers on a $220 million Department of Homeland Security advertising initiative that prominently featured Noem. During recent testimony before Congress, Noem stated that the campaign had been approved by Trump. But according to the president, that claim was not accurate.
“I never knew anything about it,” Trump told Reuters when asked about the advertising program.
According to two sources familiar with internal White House discussions who spoke to the New York Post, Trump was angered by Noem’s testimony that he had personally signed off on the campaign. The sources said the dispute over the ad approval played a major role in the president’s decision to remove her from the position.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana confirmed that conflicting accounts existed between the president and the former DHS secretary. Speaking with CBS, Kennedy said he had spoken directly with Trump about the issue.
“Put it this way,” Kennedy said. “His recollection and her recollection are different.”
Later Thursday, Trump announced Noem’s dismissal in a message posted to Truth Social. In the same statement, he named Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, as her replacement to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
The $220 million advertising campaign that triggered the dispute has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and watchdogs due to its size and the prominent role Noem herself played in its messaging. DHS advertising initiatives often focus on issues such as border enforcement, immigration policy, and public safety campaigns, but critics have questioned whether the campaign blurred the line between government messaging and personal promotion.
The controversy surfaced during congressional oversight hearings examining DHS spending and immigration enforcement policies. During those sessions, lawmakers pressed Noem on the scope and authorization of the advertising campaign.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who Trump announced as Noem’s replacement, has been a vocal supporter of the administration’s immigration policies and border enforcement initiatives. His appointment signals that the White House intends to maintain a hardline approach to DHS priorities moving forward.
