Mullin 'surprised' by Trump’s call tapping him as Homeland Security secretary |
Mullin ‘surprised’ by Trump’s call tapping him as Homeland Security secretary
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said he was surprised by President Trump’s call Thursday informing him that he would be tapped to replace ousted Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
“I am super excited about this opportunity. It came — not as a complete surprise — but it came at a little bit of a surprise for us,” Mullin told reporters on the Capitol steps shortly after Trump announced Noem’s ouster on Thursday afternoon.
Mullin said he got a call from the White House switchboard out of the blue.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting the call today. But super excited,” he said. “There’s a lot of work we can do to get the Department of Homeland Security working for the American people.”
“The Department of Homeland Security has a very broad jurisdiction and I think there’s a lot of work we need to do and I’m excited,” he said.
He earlier told reporters that he found out about his appointment “a little bit before you guys did.”
Mullin said he would try to earn votes from both Republican and Democratic colleagues.
“We’re going to try to earn everybody’s vote. I want people to understand, when I go into this position, yes, I’m a Republican, yes, I’m conservative, but the Department of Homeland Security is to keep everybody [safe], regardless of if you support me or you don’t support me, regardless of what your thoughts are,” he said.
Mullin said his focus is “to keep the homeland secure.”
Mullin said he wants to sit down and meet with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), who has led the Democratic blockade of funding for the Homeland Security Department.
“If Mr. Schumer wants to sit down and talk to me, I’m going to sit down and talk with him,” he said.
“If they have real concerns, I’m going to listen to them. I’m going to see if it’s practical” to make changes at the department, he continued.
Asked what he might do differently from Noem, Mullin called the outgoing secretary “a friend” and said “our families are friends.”
“She was tasked to do a very difficult job and I think she has performed the best she can do underneath the circumstances,” he said.
“There’s an opportunity to build off successes and there’s also opportunities to build off things that didn’t go as planned,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Paxton offers conditions for potential exit from Texas Senate race
Noem defends living on base in Coast Guard housing
Noem replaced as DHS secretary with Oklahoma senator
Judge orders Trump administration to close out goods without charging emergency ...
Johnson: ‘Everybody in America better watch’ how lawmakers vote on DHS ...
Fox News poll: Majority says Trump’s handling of Iran has made US less safe
GOP’s Turner rips Pentagon No. 3 at hearing: ‘Really kind of gross’
RFK Jr. puts Dunkin’ on notice; Massachusetts governor says ‘come and take ...
Watch live: Noem speaks moments after Trump ousts her from DHS
Live updates: Trump replaces Noem at DHS, taps Mullin for job; House set to ...
In lead-up to Noem firing, Trump ‘never knew’ of blessing $220M ad campaign
Ted Cruz, Tim Scott asking Treasury to approve $200B tax cut without ...
Noem denies blocking investigations, as inspector general says he’s been ...
Fetterman says he’ll vote to confirm Mullin as new DHS Secretary
GOP anxieties rise in Texas after Talarico victory
Noem faces GOP heat over $220M ad that boosted ‘your name recognition’
Senate Democrats block bill to fund DHS, spurning increased GOP pressure
The new SNAP food restrictions aren’t just confusing — they’re illegal