All posts tagged "kristi noem"

Kristi Noem's 'outrageous' voting comment ignites frenzy: 'Saying the quiet part out loud'

Kristi Noem set off a firestorm among political observers over the weekend by making a comment about voting that many said was "saying the quiet part out loud."

Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, said during a press event Saturday, "When it gets to Election Day, we've been proactive to make sure that we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country."

That comment about "the right people" voting immediately spread online, with Jonathan Karl, ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent, saying one word: "Extraordinary."

The popular Ekklesia Network wrote simply, "They are saying the usually quiet part quite openly."

Sports analyst Ben Fowlkes chimed in, "If we let these people destroy our democracy we won’t be able to say that we didn’t have plenty of advance warning."

Former Obama insider David Axelrod said, "THIS is why Noem will remain in place, despite her flagrant, corrupt mismanagement of the DHS, at least through the midterm elections."

He added that Trump "wants a loyal apparatchik in place who will do whatever is necessary to ensure 'the right leaders' win."

Camille MacKenzie, who identifies as a "constitutional conservative," weighed in, "Elections are not a 'critical infrastructure' responsibility that Kristi Noem is in charge of. She’s outright making up lies about what DHS is responsible for. It’s outrageous that she even thinks that this is something she has any power over."

Ex-GOP congressman Joe Walsh was also outraged.

"To make sure the 'right people' are voting? Who the f--- are the 'right people?'" he asked. "And it’s not government’s job to choose our leaders. It’s the American people’s job. I served in Congress with Kristi Noem. It’s not at all surprising to hear her spew this un-American s---."

Dem congressman Daniel Goldman said, "They’re not even trying to hide their intention to steal the election. We cannot give one more cent to DHS until Congress ensures our elections will be free and fair."

Trump gossips about 'dead giveaway' Kristi Noem is having an 'affair': report

President Donald Trump has "frequently" shared a story about how he uncovered that Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski could be more than just coworkers, according to reports.

Noem and Lewandowski, who are both married, have been reportedly having a years-long "affair," The Daily Beast reported. And according to The New York Post, they spend nights together regularly.

It's a topic Trump has apparently even gossiped about at the White House, where he has mentioned his "go-to story" regarding what he has witnessed between Noem and her top aide — Trump's former campaign manager. He even mentioned it this week over dinner with media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

"Sources told the paper—whose owner, Rupert Murdoch, dined with Trump at the White House this week, according to Breaker—that the president 'frequently' tells a story about witnessing Lewandowski and Noem taking sips from the same can of soda," The Beast reported.

"The president, a known germaphobe, allegedly says that was a dead giveaway," The Beast reported.

“You can’t do that, it’s pretty obvious!” Trump said, according to sources from The Post. “You can’t do that, everyone’s going to know!”

Kristi Noem roasted after pilot fired over forgotten blanket: 'Can't buy another?'

Mockery abounded Friday after an unusual report revealed that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem fired a pilot over not moving her blanket — but then needed the pilot's help to fly her home.

The Wall Street Journal described in a bombshell report the chaos and dysfunction inside the Department of Homeland Security. Several sources complained on and off the record about Noem and her top adviser and purported romantic partner Corey Lewandowski, who frequently berate senior staffers, demand polygraph tests for employees they don't trust, and routinely fire employees for dubious reasons. In one incident, Lewandowski fired a U.S. Coast Guard pilot after Noem’s blanket was left behind on a plane during a maintenance issue, according to sources familiar with the incident.

On social media, people mocked Noem over the blanket incident.

"I am confused…does Noem have a security blanket she travels with??" Former FBI special agent and lawyer Asha Rangappa wrote on Bluesky.

"The details of the Kristi Noem blanket incident are just f------ perfect," Gizmodo reporter Matt Novak wrote on Bluesky.

"The Kristi Noem blanket incident is a bizarre example of how a regime of narcissists is swinging a wrecking ball at Americans' lives in service to their own egos," former Metro editor at the Chicago Tribune Mark Jacob wrote on Bluesky.

"Noem can’t just buy another blanket?" Another user wrote on Bluesky.

"BREAKING: Kristi Noem blanket reveal," Governor Newsom Press Office wrote on X, featuring an image of President Donald Trump and late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"DHS did not fire the officers who shot and killed Americans in cold blood. They did, however, fire an officer who accidentally left Kristi Noem's blanket on a plane," Democrats wrote on X.

Kristi Noem enrages Trump with secret 'cabinet meetings' behind president's back

Kirsti Noem's secret cabinet meetings have enraged Donald Trump, who is reportedly infuriated by the Department of Homeland Security.

The president had not been aware of the meetings, though it is now believed he and his advisors are aware Noem is hosting clandestine meetings which the DHS head has referred to as cabinet meetings, The Daily Beast reported. Aides to the president are reportedly troubled by Noem referring to her meetings as "cabinet" meetings, and Trump is personally furious at an advertisement that the DHS budgeted for earlier this month.

Noem was at the center of an advertisement campaign telling immigrants to "leave now", but the $200million price tag on said adverts has left Trump "annoyed".

A DHS spokesperson defended Noem, saying it was appropriate to call the gatherings “DHS component cabinet meetings” and that the “tremendously successful" advertisements had been coordinated with White House officials.

Noem hit headlines earlier today as Trump administration officials are believed to be unhappy with the Department of Homeland Security head, who has made the team "uncomfortable" when trying to cozy up to the president.

Michelle Hackman, Josh Dawsey, and Tarini Parti wrote, "The pair worked to hastily solidify their relationship with the president, successfully requesting an Oval Office meeting with Trump two days after the Pretti shooting. Noem’s team quickly scheduled a series of press conferences on other matters, including an event highlighting airport security in Miami and an announcement about the border wall in Arizona.

"Noem and Lewandowski’s close relationship had already made Trump and his top advisers uncomfortable. Lewandowski had initially wanted to formally serve as Noem’s chief of staff, but Trump rejected the idea due to reports of a romantic relationship between the two—which he has continued to bring up, officials say.

"Though White House officials have been frustrated with Noem and Lewandowski’s leadership, they know his closeness with the president makes it hard for them to make changes at DHS, officials said."

Trump advisors 'uncomfortable' with Kristi Noem ally trying to curry favor with president

Donald Trump and his advisors are said to be uncomfortable with recent actions carried out by the Department of Homeland Security Head, Kirsti Noem.

Noem, who assumed office on Jan 25, 2025, has left the president and his closest allies uncomfortable with a pitch to curry favor with the 47th POTUS. A report from The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Noem and Corey Lewandowski, a former campaign manager who has worked with Trump in the past, are attempting to win the president over.

Though the pair has been spotted backing Immigration and Customs Officials in recent weeks, their private pitches to Trump have been the point of discussion behind the scenes.

"Behind the scenes, Noem and Lewandowski have attempted to curry favor with Trump and box out rivals, including Homan," the WSJ reported. "As Trump’s first campaign manager in the 2016 election, Lewandowski has a long-term relationship with the president, who values his loyalty and considers him a friend.

"Though White House officials have been frustrated with Noem and Lewandowski’s leadership, they know his closeness with the president makes it hard for them to make changes at DHS, officials said.

"Lewandowski has taken on a much more expansive role than the status typically allows, directing personnel and contracting and handling classified information. In emails and on other paperwork, he uses the title chief adviser to the secretary.

"Lewandowski’s outsize role at the department drew enough concern from administration officials that the White House Counsel’s Office opened an inquiry into Lewandowski’s potential abuse of the special government employee role last year."

Kristi Noem drowned out by loud protesters at press conference

Protesters surrounded Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a news conference in California on Thursday.

It appeared that Noem's voice was nearly drowned out at some points by people yelling and sirens blaring during a visit to Otay Mesa, San Diego, to discuss an update on border security and drug seizures along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Journalist Aaron Rupar pointed out how the press conference was physically set up, and how the view could have been obstructed as the volume of voices escalated around her. Video and images showed a large number of evidence bags and boxes surrounding her.

"Definitely sounds like protesters that are making the commotion behind Noem (also note that they've set up the news conference so you can't see anything behind her)," Rupar wrote on X.

Noem also appeared to have a hard time hearing questions through the commotion, Rupar added.

Noem has been criticized on multiple fronts, including her controversial handling of immigration enforcement, her role in overseeing the Trump administration's ICE operations that have been accused of excessive force — and even led to the death of two American citizens in Minneapolis — and her support for harsh border policies that critics argue are inhumane.

definitely sounds like protesters that are making the commotion behind Noem (also note that they've set up the news conference so you can't see anything behind her) pic.twitter.com/AUEUMjLH2G
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2026

'Noem is a liar': Intense attack sees DHS head decried as 'embarrassment' on House floor

A lawmaker had a scathing opening statement about Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a hearing where heads of immigration agencies were testifying ahead of a looming funding deadline for the Department of Homeland Security.

Ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) called out Noem and President Donald Trump directly, delivering his remarks before the testimony from DHS officials. He questioned Noem's leadership and the conduct of ICE and border patrol agents responsible for carrying out the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies and tactics, including the killing of two citizens in Minnesota last month.

"Bystander videos from Minneapolis and cities around the country, show ICE and CPD personnel behaving like unprofessional goons, cursing at bystanders and mooning people from their hotel rooms," Thompson said. "News reports have a Border Patrol agent who was found passed out, drunk, and covered in vomit in a vehicle and an ICE personnel apparently stole a child's phone and sold it for cash.

"It's an embarrassment and DHS is so-called leadership should be ashamed — if only they had any shame."

He specifically addressed Noem, who had appeared briefly before the committee last year and then said she had to leave for another meeting — but that meeting never happened.

"Secretary Noem's Department of Homeland Security has the blood of American citizens on its hands, but she takes no responsibility for anything," Thompson said. "To the contrary, Secretary Noem was last seen in this committee room hiding behind her family in a desperate attempt to distract from her department's failures and abuses. Then she ran from our questions, leaving early under the guise of needing to attend a meeting that it turns out, didn't even exist."

Thompson described what he thinks Noem should do next.

'She's always been more concerned with photo ops and wardrobe changes than following the law and fulfilling the mission of her department. Since being sworn in, Secretary Noem has has enriched herself, abused the power of her office, obstructed congressional oversight and violated her oath to the Constitution.

"Donald Trump and Kristi Noem are doing real damage to this country and to the department that was stood up 25 years ago in the wake of 9/11 to protect American citizens from future attacks. Secretary Noem is a liar with no concern for Americans killed by the department she runs. She must go."

Kristi Noem ‘alienating Republicans’ — and it’s not just over her handling of ICE

Republicans have started to ramp up criticism over Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — and not just over her handling of ICE and the growing public backlash after two agents killed American citizens — but also tensions over her leadership of FEMA.

As Noem tries to manage the fallout over the Trump administration's harsh immigration actions, "the embattled Noem faces a litany of other dysfunctions in her department that also imperil her tenure," according to a Politico report published Thursday.

"President Donald Trump has insisted Noem will not lose her job," Politico reported. "But her handling of other things under her agency’s sprawling remit – from disaster relief to the gutting of the nation’s cybersecurity agency – is increasingly alienating Republicans at a time when she needs them most."

A number of Republicans have begun to call out Trump and Noem, who is slated to testify in March before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“You’ve got to get adults in the room,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told Politico. “Get people in there who actually have the kind of experience you need to run large, complex organizations. And there’s a lot, by the way, in this Cabinet that do that. It’s just not her.”

Tillis, who has been a critic of DHS and Trump, is among GOP leaders who have suggested Noem might not be up for the job.

“A lot of people question her ability to lead this agency, particularly after what has happened,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) told CNN. “I think that all options need to be on the table to find the best person, if there’s somebody better.”

Trump on Thursday doubled down on his support for Noem during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.

"But frustrations with how the agency is functioning continue to mount," Politico reported. "Some of the most public critiques outside of ICE operations have related to Noem’s leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tillis, who has called for her resignation or removal from office, devoted much of a speech on the Senate floor last week to Noem’s leadership of FEMA."

According to Tillis and other Republicans, Noem has required that she personally approve any spending that reaches more than $100,000. This move has apparently stalled requests and delayed FEMA assistance from lawmakers and the state officials requesting the funding, Politico reported.

Tillis has also indicated that the federal government's response to hurricanes Helene, Matthew and Florence has been troubling. Hurricane Helene left 250 people dead and caused nearly $80 billion in damages in North Carolina.

“The data clearly shows that something is seriously wrong here,” Tillis said. “Under Secretary Noem’s lack of leadership, FEMA has invented an entirely new set of bureaucracies, the likes of which I’ve never seen.”

This horror finally launched the anti-Trump insurrection — 'The time is now'

The facts are so damning that it’s unclear to me why moderate Democrats are being careful about their reaction to them.

Renee Good was shot in the face. Alex Pretti was shot in the back. Their deaths were not accidental. They were not the result of poor or insufficient training. They were the result of intent.

Why are moderates worried about seeming extreme when the context is murder by the state? In that setting, there’s no such thing as an overreaction. Call on Kristi Noem to resign. Call on Stephen Miller to resign. Call on the president himself to resign.

The real danger is under-reacting. Noem shouldn’t only be impeached and removed. She should be arrested and tried.

In addition to murder, ICE and CBP are going house to house, kicking in doors, terrorizing people. They are taking babies from mothers. They are preventing fathers from grieving their dead sons. They are letting sick kids taken from their parents die in custody.

These are crimes against humanity that everyone would recognize as such if they were taking place in Iran. It’s a sick joke to suggest they wouldn’t happen if ICE had proper “guidance.”

Sadism doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It is accepted. It is condoned. It is encouraged. It is a choice originating from the very top. Without criminal accountability, sadism as policy will continue.

Fortunately, moderate Democrats are not most Democrats. Some in the Senate are threatening to shut down the government if Donald Trump and the GOP do not accept their reforms. More important is what’s happening among House Democrats.

The leadership there is now calling on Noem to resign or face impeachment proceedings. It also seems to be bridging the gap between opposing factions within the party — between Democrats who believe they should pursue accountability and Democrats who believe they should pursue “affordability.”

I’m going to quote the full statement by Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar so you can see that, in their view, accountability and “affordability” seem to be the same.

Taxpayer dollars are being weaponized by the Trump administration to kill American citizens, brutalize communities and violently target law-abiding immigrant families. The country is disgusted by what the Department of Homeland Security has done.

Republicans are planning to shut large parts of the government down on Friday so that the DHS killing spree unleashed in Minnesota can continue throughout America. That is immoral.

Dramatic changes at the Department of Homeland Security are needed. Federal agents who have broken the law must be criminally prosecuted. The paramilitary tactics must cease and desist. Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not kill them in cold blood.

The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith. Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.

We can do this the easy way or the hard way.

Personally, I have never seen Jeffries speak so aggressively.

Neither has Jill Lawrence.

She’s the author of The Art of the Political Deal and a contributor to The Bulwark. Jill used to be an opinion editor at USA Today.

“It's inspirational,” she told me.

“Jeffries is using their language (‘the easy way or the hard way’), making irrefutable points, and talking about impeachment from a position of strength, given the swell of Democrats who are co-sponsoring an impeachment resolution against Noem.”

She went on.

“If you want to talk about affordability, after the GOP let health insurance subsidies expire and passed nearly $1 billion in Medicaid cuts coming next year, this is a dramatic way to make the point: ‘Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not kill them in cold blood.’”

“I think the statement generally is an acknowledgment that people really care deeply about these abuses of power,” Jill said.

The last time Jill and I discussed accountability was in May. Back then, she said talk of impeachment was premature. In a recent piece for The Bulwark, however, she changed her mind. The time is now, she told me, not only for Trump but for his cabinet, too.

The breaking point, she said, was murder.

Moderate Democrats take note.

JS: Last time we talked about impeachment, you said the key is timing. You were concerned about the Democrats moving too quickly, risking the appearance of playing politics. In a recent piece, you say the time has come. What changed your mind?

JL: The breaking point for me was the ICE killing of Renee Good, and the pile-up of impeachment articles filed against Trump and members of his cabinet. Impeachment talk was growing, and even as I was working on the piece, Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly announced she would file articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem.

In part, I thought it was time to stop ridiculing and dismissing people who, quite justifiably, thought Donald Trump should be impeached for any one of many, many reasons. In truth, I found those articles – against Trump and against several cabinet members – to be interesting and clarifying reading. I liked the idea of publicizing them in formal investigatory hearings, like January 6, and decided to make a public argument for that.

What do you say to those who say there's no point in impeaching Trump if he can't be convicted by the Senate?

I don't think Democrats should try to impeach Trump right now, and maybe not even this year. The idea would be to build up to it after making cases against several cabinet members who have earned impeachment by any objective standard. My thought was that Democrats should lay the groundwork for an impeachment proceeding against him next year, when they seem likely to control the House. And by then, who knows who will control the Senate, or how many Republicans will have had it.

I suggested starting out with Robert Kennedy Jr, because his policies are literally deadly, and he's nowhere near finished unspooling our progress on public health. But Noem seems more urgent at this point. It was reported that at least 145 Democrats have co-sponsored the impeachment resolution against her. And Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin says he will hold investigatory hearings to fill in and expand the articles.

I agree with your view that there's no need to pick between accountability and "affordability." That, however, is not the view of influential Democratic strategists. They believe winning means picking "a kitchen table issue." Yet there are people out there saying golf becomes political when an agent of the state can murder you. What are these strategists not getting?

I am as puzzled as you are. I don't think the strategists get how deeply these killings and tactics have penetrated into the public consciousness. Or how intensely people feel them. Or how it's obvious to the public that Trump is not prioritizing prices, he cares about Greenland and ICE and the ballroom and the Board of Peace charade. I wrote last year and still believe that the most important thing is for candidates to be true to themselves, their beliefs, their communities. There is no reason not to talk about the dangers we face now, as well as all the idiotic Trump policies that are raising prices, from food to health care to electricity.

The people of Minneapolis have proven something important — attention moves public opinion and public opinion moves the Democrats. Even Chuck Schumer seems to be growing a spine (threats to cut DHS funding). It seems to me impeachment hearings, whether official or not, can do the same thing.

I totally agree. And Raskin agrees as well. He just said today that unless Noem resigns or is fired, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan needs to launch impeachment proceedings against her. And if he doesn't, Raskin said he will do it to create a record of "fact-finding, public hearings, and committee reports."

One commenter on my original story suggested an interesting way Democrats could proceed: Work with legislators in a state Democrats control so the hearings can be part of an official record. Minnesota would be a perfect place to start.

I'm seeing a lot of talk among prominent liberals about how something deep is shifting. The suggestion is that the American people are moving away from Trump and toward something better. The skeptic in me says hold on. We said the same thing after George Floyd's murder. Then came the elite backlash. Then came Trump's reelection. What do you say to that?

First, I'll mention another suggestion from a commenter, who said House Democrats should start an impeachment website that publishes all the articles of impeachment filed against Trump and his administration to date. Other material could be added as necessary. The popularity of such a site would be one gauge of public interest. I think it would be high.

I think this could really be a hinge point for a few reasons. Tragedies breaking through. Trump's age and massive overreach. The lower federal courts. Younger Democrats in the Congress and White House pipeline. And one more thing.

I feel like I'm a pretty mainstream center-leftie, and fiscally conservative on debt, but I have changed. I am interested in a lot of fundamental change geared not only to guarding against a repeat of this awful period, but also to getting done some of the business that Americans want done on issues like health and gun safety.

So, curb the dependence on presidential character in our system, because it's a demonstrable and tragic failure. And end the legislative paralysis, in the Senate in particular. Sorry about the soapbox. You did ask!

Republicans squirm as they feel heat on Trump gun rights switcheroo

WASHINGTON — Top Trump administration officials have challenged long-held GOP orthodoxy on the Second Amendment in recent weeks — bringing condemnation from gun rights groups but notably not Republicans in Congress.

Democrats say this is yet another example of a dangerously divisive hypocrisy that holds the left and right to different standards.

“What we're seeing is complete hypocrisy. It's both stunning and crazy,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) told Raw Story at the Capitol this week.

“Those attacks have been so outrageous. The fact that they're calling people terrorists — ‘domestic terrorists’ — without collecting any information.”

The Trump administration applied that label to Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, both U.S. citizens shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last month.

Pretti was legally carrying a concealed firearm, which was removed by an agent before he was shot multiple times.

Republicans including President Donald Trump have said Pretti should not have carried a gun to a protest — a dizzying abandonment of normal GOP rhetoric on Second Amendment rights.

Regardless, among Republicans who control both chambers of Congress and are quick to investigate liberals, many are defending President Trump and his advisors — or choosing to dodge the question.

“Do you think your party needs to hold hearings on the Second Amendment?” Raw Story asked Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) on Capitol Hill this week. “Are you worried that it’s being attacked by members of the administration?”

“No, I don't know,” McClintock said. “I utterly reject the premise of your question.”

He was far from alone in adopting a GOP position that Democratic critics say showcases the president’s vision of two Americas.

‘Would-be assassin’

After years of challenging most any gun restriction, top Trump officials turned heads by condemning Alex Pretti.

The dead man was accused of “domestic terrorism” by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, labeled a "would-be assassin" by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and rebuked by FBI Director Kash Patel.

“You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want,” Patel said.

After backlash from gun groups, all those officials tried to walk their comments back. But this week, another top Trump appointee challenged longheld GOP orthodoxy.

“Bring a gun into this District, plan on going to jail,” Fox News host turned U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Perino said … before she too had to try to clarify comments so at odds with GOP rhetoric.

You wouldn’t know that from talking to Republicans on the Hill.

“I haven’t seen that,” Rep. Joe WIlson (R-SC) — who brags about having “lead on concealed carry in South Carolina” — told Raw Story. “I’m not familiar with it.”

“So are you going to spearhead hearings to protect the Second Amendment from this administration?” Raw Story asked Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), a prominent Trump supporter and candidate for governor in his home state.

“What?” Donalds said. “I always protect the Second Amendment. I always will.”

Other Republicans were happy to keep blaming Pretti for his own death.

“You have rights, but you don't have the right to infringe on other people's rights,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), a former U.S. Navy Seal, told Raw Story.

“Law enforcement has a right to enforce the law. If you interfere in that — like, gun or no gun — like, there's a chance you're going to get hurt.

“If you get pulled over, what do you do as a proper gun owner? You tell the police officer, ‘I am carrying.’ You tell them that. I don't know if that's a law, but it's, like, well-known in the community that that's just what you do.”

Other Republicans blamed the media.

“A lot of things can be taken out of context from the standpoint of what is happening,” Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) told Raw Story.

“There's a lot of emotion surrounding what is happening in Minnesota, so I think people need to be careful of making hard and fast judgments about what somebody is doing or saying without understanding the context in which it was asked.”

While some Republicans have criticized comments from administration figures, they don’t see a need to publicly decry Team Trump.

“I thought that was a rush to judgment,” Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), who has a concealed carry permit, told Raw Story. “I was disappointed.”

Still, Thompson doesn’t think House Republicans need to ask any officials to clarify.

“I'm guessing they got great feedback and got schooled on it,” Thompson said.

‘New levels of hypocrisy’

Democrats don’t know how to react to such a startling GOP about-face.

“I didn't think I could be stunned by new levels of hypocrisy, but I think this is maybe the most hypocritical of all the hypocrisy,” Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), a military veteran, told Raw Story.

“Pretty pathetic from them, but not surprising these days.

“At this point, all principles have been sacrificed in fealty to Trump. All principles, including our Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.”

The episode is revealing, others said.

“You're not fighting for principles but you're playing for power,” Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) told Raw Story. “For the folks in this administration, it's about, ‘What's in it for me?’ Everything's malleable. Everything's negotiable.”

In Trump’s America, Democrats say, critics are held to a different standard.

“The administration supports the Second Amendment, apparently except for when demonstrators are carrying,” Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) told Raw Story.

“Do you worry that we have two Americas now?” Raw Story asked Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA).

“Oh, I do worry about that,” Dean said. “But I do think it's more a sign of how they're losing. How they're failing.

“They can't keep a grip on their own arguments without twisting themselves into knots over the fact that Alex Pretti lawfully was carrying a gun, [it] was taken from him and then he was executed in the street.

“They are tying themselves in knots to try to forgive ICE and to say it doesn't impact their precious Second Amendment rights.”

‘No credibility’

To Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, GOP hypocrisy is one thing, the administration’s rush to defend ICE agents no matter the allegations quite another.

“For folks that claim to be pro-law enforcement, rule number one in law enforcement, having been a mayor of a big city [Long Beach] with a lot of cops, is that you allow an independent investigation,” Garcia said.

“You don't prejudge it if you are the one doing the investigation.

“It's just a joke. I mean, there's no credibility. The DOJ is corrupt. The DHS is corrupt. Both [Attorney General Pam] Bondi and Noem should resign. They view things in two lenses … they view people as enemies, and people that support the president.”

If Democrats win the House in November, Garcia’s slated to replace Rep. James Comer (R-KY) as chair of the Oversight Committee. He’s promising investigations.

“We have a long list. Of course, we're going to look at Noem and, of course, we're going to look at Bondi, but the list goes on and on,” Garcia said. “There's so much to investigate.

“This is the most corrupt government to ever exist in the history of the United States. Where are all the DHS contracts going? Or the private prison contracts? How much money is the Trump family, you know, gaining?

“I think all of it has to be looked at.”