Department of Homeland Security head Markwayne Mullin is facing fresh calls for his firing from President Donald Trump's most extreme MAGA wing of the party.
According to a report from Politico Playbook, Mullin set off a firestorm over the weekend over comments he made at the National Governors Association Summer Meeting, which caused his critics to lose their minds.
Mullin's subtle remarks distinguishing between immigrants pursuing legal status and those who aren't set off a firestorm among anti-immigrant activists, with Politico reporting his proposal to modify employment visa programs to address labor shortages triggered a coordinated assault from MAGA influencers who view any nuance on immigration as betrayal, putting his future "on the rocks."
Laura Loomer, Robby Starbuck, Nick Sortor, Tomi Lahren, and former Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino all launched attacks, which led MAGA podcaster Jake Posobiec to predict, "There is a growing wave among MAGA to find a DHS secretary who puts deportations first."
Mullin is regarded as weak on immigration, and his diplomatic approach, far different than his fired predecessor Kristi Noem, is viewed as incompatible with the mass deportation priorities of White House adviser Stephen Miller.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has emerged as a leading voice calling for Mullin's replacement and already has a replacement for the former U.S. senator in mind.
"MAGA wants President Trump to detail 'Pitbull' Pulte to DHS," Bannon told Politico. "Mullin is the wrong guy at the wrong time for the wrong job—a time when we need focus on 'mass deportations,' we get an amnesty advocate."