Gavin Newsom reveals the real reason Kristi Noem’s firing isn’t enough
President Donald Trump decided to replace Kristi Noem in her position as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Despite the move, California Governor Gavin Newsom thinks that Trump shouldn’t stop there.
“Kristi Noem will go down as the most shamelessly incompetent and cruel Homeland Security secretary in U.S. history,” said Newsom in a scathing tweet on X.
He continues, “Firing her is not enough. NOEM, GREG BOVINO, and STEPHEN MILLER all must be held accountable for terrorizing and endangering the American people.”
Trump intends to replace Noem with Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma. This does not mean that Noem has landed in Trump’s bad graces—on Trump’s Truth Social post, Noem will become a ‘special envoy for the Shield of the Americas.’ The specifics of her role have not yet been disclosed. Nevertheless, Noem is reassigned—not booted.
Noem’s Vicious Track Record
Noem is notorious for her anti-migrant crackdowns. Early on in her term, she revoked the legal status of 530,000 Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan migrants. These were immigrants who came under former President Joe Biden’s term and were given the legal right to live and work in the United States for two years.
She would later support the deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran national. He had protected legal status to reside in the United States. Noem would write in an official statement about García, “President Trump is not going to allow this illegal alien, who is an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator, to terrorize American citizens any longer.” Regardless, these allegations are without proof or legal basis.
She fought the effort to bring García back to the United States, only to be shut down by the Supreme Court. Although García is now free from ICE custody, he is still fighting human smuggling charges.
Her brutality reached its peak when two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot by ICE agents during peaceful protests. Both Good and Pretti were dismissed by Noem and the Trump administration as agitators and perpetrators of violence. She ran a smear campaign against the slain protestors. Social media and the streets were galvanized following the deaths of Good and Pretti.
Now, ICE agents are pulling out of the state—but not all have.
Replacing Kristi Noem is Not Accountability
Reassigning Noem to another post is not accountability from the Trump administration. She was an executor and enabler of the anti-immigration efforts promised by the Trump administration, and she’s run her course. Her new position may not be as central compared to her last, but it still gives her work recognition instead of shame.
Additionally, her colleagues—United States Border Patrol Officer Gregory Bovino and US Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller, as mentioned by Newsom—have not yet been investigated. Miller is deemed the architect of Trump’s anti-immigration policies. Bovino, on the other hand, was known for his militarized tactics during anti-immigration crackdowns.
Noem was technically demoted but not legally held liable. Miller is still in his position, seemingly without concern. Only Bovino is the conspirator under investigation.
Who is Markwayne Mullin?
Markwayne Mullin, Noem’s slated replacement, is a senator from Oklahoma. He was a mixed martial arts fighter before becoming an avid Trump supporter. Aside from espousing the common pro-war, anti-migration MAGA talking points, Mullin has shown support for the anti-immigration efforts launched by Noem in the past.
He wrote about Pretti’s death on X, “Law-abiding citizens have every right to carry a firearm. You DO NOT have a right to obstruct law enforcement activity or commit another felony with one. This is not difficult.”
Trump didn’t hold Noem accountable. He simply replaced her with yet another pundit who will follow the same repressive tactics employed by the previous DHS secretary.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
