News: President Donald Trump has quietly asked Hill Republicans if he should fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the latest sign of her tenuous standing inside the West Wing, according to multiple Republicans who have spoken with the president.
Even Speaker Mike Johnson speculated about the potential for a change at the top of DHS during a recent House Republican elected leadership retreat in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Trump dialed up some GOP senators after Noem testified in front of the Senate and House Judiciary panels on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Those appearances were marked by extraordinarily bitter exchanges between Noem and Democratic lawmakers, especially over Trump’s harsh immigration crackdown.
But some of the most notable exchanges, especially in the Senate hearing, were with Republicans.
Trump was said to be especially upset about Noem’s response when Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) pressed her Tuesday about a government-funded ad campaign that Kennedy said only served to boost her own personal name recognition nationally.
The $220 million contract for the ad campaign was awarded to an LLC which subcontracted with a company run by the husband of former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. The ads were filmed in October at Mount Rushmore. Ben Yoho, McLaughlin’s husband, said he made $226,137.17 for his work.
Under questioning from Kennedy, Noem said repeatedly that Trump personally approved the controversial ad blitz featuring her in the lead role. This has so angered Trump that Noem’s future at DHS may be at risk, we’re told.
Kennedy: “The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?”
Noem: “Yes sir, we went through the legal processes …”
Kennedy: “Did the president know you were gonna do this?”
Noem: “Yes.”
Kennedy: “He did?”
Noem: “Uh huh, yes.”
More from Kennedy: “They were effective in your name recognition. To me it puts the president in a terribly awkward spot.”
Noem also came under heavy scrutiny from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), leading the retiring Republican to declare that he’ll gum up the Senate floor unless Noem addresses his questions over a range of issues. Tillis has called on Noem to resign.
Noem’s relationship with Corey Lewandowski, her top aide, has been the subject of intense speculation as well. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee asked Noem several times on Wednesday if she had a sexual relationship with Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager. Noem refused to answer the question, calling it “tabloid garbage.”
Can Noem be replaced? Privately, Republicans are divided about whether this is the right moment for Trump to fire Noem.
First, they’re worried about whether Senate GOP leaders could find 51 votes for a replacement in the face of universal Democratic opposition, combined with vulnerable Republicans who may want to flash some independence. Trump’s harsh immigration crackdown and ICE’s operations would be at the center of those confirmation hearings.
Other Republicans have warned Trump that it would be a bad idea to fire Noem in the middle of the now 19-day DHS shutdown, arguing it would embolden Democrats and strengthen their negotiating position as they demand an ICE overhaul.
The White House didn’t reply to a request for comment.
A DHS spokesperson said: “The domestic ad campaign has been the most successful ad campaign in U.S. history… The ad campaign saved the U.S. taxpayers over $39 billion.”
