The Trump administration was reportedly splintering Monday over the fatal ICE shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles and White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller — the architect of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policy — have apparently turned on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, The Daily Beast reported. Lewandowski and Noem have been subject to multiple reports of a not-so-secret personal relationship, although neither of them have publicly addressed the claims.
The administration's senior leadership has questioned Noem's competence and decision to have Customs and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino leading the operation as the "public face" for Trump's policies. Several of Bovino's moves had already come into question prior to Pretti's killing shocked Americans.
"According to two senior officials, Miller is furious that Bovino, 55, and his hardcore 'turn and burn' tactics were chosen to become the focal point of the nationwide blitz," according to The Beast.
Miller has blamed Noem and Lewandowski for the decision.
“Bovino is Corey’s guy,” a source told The Beast, explaining that was why Bovino tried to support Noem's unfounded claims that Pretti was to blame for his own death.
Another insider said it was a mistake to follow Lewandowski's suggestion to make Bovino and Border Patrol leaders of the Trump administration's immigration mission, calling it "a miscalculation on Lewandowski’s part that led to declining support."
"The result has seen a splintering among the Trump administration’s senior leadership." according to The Beast. "While Wiles, 68, simply 'doesn’t like' Noem, Miller now views Noem, Lewandowski, and Bovino as a 'liability,' the official said."