Kristi Noem Officially Gets Kicked To The Curb By Donald Trump & This Was The Final Straw

The debate about Kristi Noem's job security started see-sawing in late 2025, when people became convinced that Noem and Corey Lewandowski's treatment of Department of Homeland Security staff would be her undoing. Although the White House refuted the claims, Noem's actions were repeatedly questioned during private meetings with Trump as well as public hearings with Congress. However, considering Noem's biggest scandal (shooting her pet) may have actually convinced Donald Trump to hire her, it was difficult to imagine what could push the president to fire her. Surprisingly, during Noem's recent hearings, it seems she accidentally found Trump's breaking point — and now she's lost her job as DHS head.

In a Truth Social post announcing that Noem will be replaced by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, the president wrote, "Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at 'Homeland.'"

The move came after Noem's brutal congressional grilling. "The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?" queried Louisiana Senator John Kennedy (via "PBS News Hour"). Noem replied in the affirmative, and she also claimed Trump was aware of the project before she became DHS Secretary. Kennedy was incredulous that Trump would agree to the pricey project. "It puts the president in a terribly awkward spot," he remarked. "It's just hard for me to believe, knowing the president as I do ... that he would have agreed to that." Kennedy might have been on to something, since behind-the-scenes reports indicate Trump reacted by venting about Noem and brainstorming possible candidates for her job. 

Beyond their astronomical cost, Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security ads were also questionable since they were produced by a company that may have been picked due to ties with former DHS staffer Tricia McLaughlin. However, as far as Donald Trump is concerned, Noem's biggest mistake might be that the ads hit him where it hurts the most: his ego. 

One of the spots was yet another opportunity for Noem's MAGA cowgirl cosplay, and it started off more like a campaign ad for Noem and her home state of South Dakota rather than a message about DHS policy. Although a few shots of Trump were peppered in the montage, he was clearly playing second fiddle. Noem's voice was heard over the entire message, and she only name-dropped Trump at the very end of the minute-long video.

In contrast, some of Noem's earlier DHS spots were more Trump-centric, and she opted for conventional work attire rather than playing dress-up. "President Trump is making America safe again," Noem asserted during a February 2025 DHS message, giving the credit to her boss rather than herself. Noem may have tried to walk some of this back in person, like in December 2025, when she sucked up to Trump by claiming he kept hurricanes away. In the end, however, Noem's missteps may have been her undoing. "Nobody is friends with Donald. You're a transaction in this guy's field of vision," Anthony Scaramucci, Trump's former communications director, informed The Guardian recently .