All posts tagged "markwayne mullin"

Senate scrambles for DHS deal before two-week recess: 'Time for us to do our job'

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers were cautiously optimistic on Thursday as the Senate was trying to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the government shutdown.

In a series of exclusive interviews with Raw Story, several senators explained how they were uncertain whether a deal could be reached as Congress was just hours away from its two-week April recess.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) was asked if she was hopeful the Senate could reach an agreement to fund DHS.

"We'll see, but I certainly think it's time for us to do our job," Britt said.

The discussions were still ongoing Thursday afternoon.

"We're reviewing that right now," said Sen. Angus King (I-ME).

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) was hesitant to say what the caucuses were discussing and if the lawmakers were closer to reaching a deal.

"I don't want to say one way or the other," Schatz said.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) signaled that senators had more to work out together, but there was one area where everyone was on the same page.

"I think the good news is that there is very broad agreement that we have to fund TSA," Coons said. "Bad news is that there's not yet agreement on sort of exactly how to."

Coons also said that Democrats did not plan to budge on their demands for ICE and were still focused on agency reforms, adding that new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said during his confirmation hearing that he would take a closer look at those suggestions.

"It's Thursday," Coons added. "Wouldn't it be great to resolve this?"

Trump again hurls Pete Hegseth under the bus over Iran war

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was angry about settling the Iran war.

Trump was taking press questions after swearing in new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office when he gave a frank response about the status of the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East, which has now reached its fourth week and left 13 troops dead and 232 service members wounded.

This was the second time in two days that Trump had punted the blame to Hegseth over the war. On Monday, during a visit to Tennessee, Trump claimed that Hegseth urged him to pursue joint military strikes with Israel on Iran.

"I don’t want to say this, but I have to. I said to Pete and General Caine, I think this thing [the war] is going to be settled very soon. They said, 'Oh, that’s too bad.' Pete didn’t want it to be settled," Trump said.

Political commentator Brian Krassenstein shared the video on X, saying, "In other words our Sec. of War doesn't want peace, he wants war."

Several other people commented on social media after the president's remarks.

"Caine getting tossed under the bus for good measure now too. Dude is just out here blaming everyone lmao," commentator Bill DeMayo wrote on X.

"Trump trying to spread blame like butter on toast," progressive commentator Bill Johnson wrote on X.

BREAKING: Trump just said that Pete Hegseth was angry that there may be a settlement in the Iran war. He said that Hegseth doesn’t want it to be settled.

"I don’t want to say this but I have to… Pete didn’t want it to be settled."

In other words our Sec. of War doesn't… pic.twitter.com/LcbAagDFHw
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 24, 2026

MAGA loses it as GOP gov appoints senator who donated to Trump foe: 'This should end him!'

MAGA fans were outraged after the controversial replacement for Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) was announced on Tuesday.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed oil and gas executive Alan Armstrong, who had formerly made a $5,800 donation to one of President Donald Trump's enemies, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). Kinzinger had voted to impeach Trump, and the donation came around that time.

Stitt announced the appointment in a post on X, just hours after Mullin was formally confirmed late Monday as the new Homeland Security Secretary, replacing the outgoing embattled Trump administration leader Kristi Noem. Noem was fired by President Donald Trump, who appointed Mullin and moved Noem into another role.

"Alan is a proud third-generation Oklahoman, staunch conservative, respected business leader, and a devoted family man with an inspiring American Dream story," Stitt said.

"He is entering the U.S. Senate at a critical time for advancing reforms to secure America’s energy future. I have no doubt that his perspective will be influential in moving the needle on permitting reform to unlock American competitiveness and energy affordability for generations to come," Stitt added.

MAGA followers on social media were furious with the move, with several people calling Stitt a "RINO," a biting acronym for Republican in name only.

"Another RINO. lock and step. These people hate MAGA," Justin Baugher, who frequently shares MAGA-related content on his social media, wrote on X.

"Armstrong DONATED to Adam Kinzinger AFTER he voted to impeach President Trump and joined the J6 witch hunt committee. You couldn’t be more anti-Trump if you tried," Jessica, a paralegal and nutritionist who self-describes as MAGA and MAHA, wrote on X.

"Good this Should END @GovStitt any political ambitions he ever had!!! We are SICK of RINOS!!!" User janconcern, who self-identifies as MAGA, wrote on X.

"Wow. Just like he made us proud when he supported Biden. True RINO’s stick together," Sherre Ann, who self-describes as an "America First Patriot," wrote on X.

MAGA furious as it discovers likely replacement for Markwayne Mullin funded Trump nemesis

MAGA loyalists were unhappy Monday after discovering the replacement for Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), oil and gas executive Alan Armstrong, had made a political contribution to one of President Donald Trump's adversaries.

Armstrong was slated to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to talk about the plans to appoint him to potentially serve the rest of Mullin's remaining term in the Senate as Mullin takes over to lead the Department of Homeland Security, The Daily Beast reported.

Although the details of the discussions were not immediately released, the conversation was expected to touch on Armstrong's $5,800 donation to former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). Kinzinger had voted to impeach Trump and the donation came around that time, according to NOTUS.

Stitt has also reportedly floated the idea of two other people replacing Mullin, including Stitt's own senior advisor Dustin Hilliary and oil and gas magnate Harold Hamm.

Some of Trump's MAGA allies were furious over the move to potentially bring Armstrong to Capitol Hill.

Right-wing activist Laura Loomer was enraged over the development.

“Has anyone told President Trump that the Governor of Oklahoma is bringing a Never Trumper who donated to a rabid anti-Trump Congressman who voted to impeach him after J6 to meet with him?” Loomer wrote on X. “Hey @SenMullin what do you think about your Never Trump replacement? Now would be a good time for you to speak up!”

Roger Stone, longtime political consultant and staunch ally of President Donald Trump, had a similar reaction.

“Alan Armstrong the Oklahoma Oil Man RINO Governor Stitt wants to appoint to the vacancy in the US Senate gave thousands of dollars to Trump enemy Little Adam Kinzinger AFTER the Jan 6 Fedsurrection,” Stone wrote on X.

Stone also added that Stitt should select Hamm to replace Mullin.

"RINO Oklahoma Gov Stitt should appoint Harold Hamm instead of Adam Kinzinger Megadonor Alan Armstrong to Oklahoma's vacancy in the US Senate," Stone wrote on X.

Co-founder of Students for Trump, Ryan Fournier, had a similar sentiment.

"Gov. Stitt is pushing for Alan Armstrong to replace Mullin in the Senate. Armstrong donated thousands to Never-Trumper Adam Kinzinger after he voted to impeach Trump," Fournier wrote on X.

GOP senator blows gaping hole into Markwayne Mullin's curious 'classified' story

Sen. Markwayne Mullin was under fire on Wednesday following questions over his travel for a "classified" reason when more information surfaced about what really occurred.

Mullin, who was tapped by President Donald Trump to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, refused to explain the "classified work" that he had claimed to have done outside the United States and did not provide lawmakers with any further details.

But several people were quick to point out online what Mullin really had done, including fellow Republican Sen. James Lankford from Mullin's home state of Oklahoma, after the nominee had claimed the House had classified the trip, which it does not have the power to do.

Lankford pointed out that Mullin might have actually signed a non-disclosure agreement.

"Sen. LANKFORD says the trip is being overblown," Punchbowl News reporter Laura Weiss wrote on X. "'This is a mountain out of a molehill issue.' LANKFORD says MULLIN is under a non-disclosure agreement related to the trip - rather than that it’s classified, which is how MULLIN described it. He adds it related to a whistleblower."

Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs reporter for Politico, pointed out the exchange and what it revealed.

"Mullin claimed that the House sent him on a classified trip that only four people knew about," Cheney wrote on X. "When Paul and Peters pressed him on which agency classified it, it led to this exchange:

MULLIN: It wasn’t an agency. It was done here, well, in the House at the time.
PETERS: The House classified it?
MULLIN: I’m assuming.
Except the House doesn't have that power. All classification authority flows from the president/executive."

CNN's Dana Bash taken aback as Senate hearing devolves into 'Real Housewives' episode

CNN host Dana Bash cracked a joke on Wednesday as the heated hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) developed into a fiery back-and-forth similar to the popular reality show franchise.

The broadcaster dropped the Bravo reference after Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) faced off with Mullin over whether he was the right person to lead the Department of Homeland Security after the nominee approved of a violent attack against the Kentucky Republican. Mullin, who President Donald Trump has selected to replace outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, was grilled by Paul and other senators in a series of tough questions about his anger, temperament and concerns over his "classified work" outside the United States.

"Back with my panel meanwhile, on the Real Housewives of the U.S. Senate, this is, you know, I mean, it's actually, it is a serious issue that Rand Paul is trying to get at, which he said is, you know, character and that questioning whether he has anger issues," Bash said.

Paul has threatened to cancel his vote to approve Mullin for the DHS job.

"It was also noteworthy that Senator Mullin brought with him his now friend, Sean O'Brien, the head of the Teamsters, who sat right within camera shot because one of the reasons why people first learned of Senator Mullin is when he almost got into a fistfight with Mr. O'Brien when Senator Mullin was asking him questions at a hearing they smoked the peace pipe — metaphorically — they are now friends," Bash said. "And so there's no question in my mind that that's why he had O'Brien back there because he knew what was coming from Rand Paul."

Markwayne Mullin walks back 'deranged' attack on Alex Pretti: 'I shouldn't have said that'

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on Wednesday said he regretted what he said about 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis this January.

Ranking member Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) pushed Mullin to respond to his statement blaming Pretti for his own death, saying he was a "deranged individual that came in to cause max damage" during Mullin's confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Mullin was selected by President Donald Trump to replace outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and was facing a number of serious questions from lawmakers.

"Those words probably should've been retracted," Mullin said. "I shouldn't have said that. I regret those statements."

Mullin referenced the ongoing investigation. Peters pressed on whether he would issue an apology to Pretti's family.

"I went out there too fast," Mullin added.

He also said he would 'absolutely' apologize if the investigation proved his claims were wrong.

PETERS: You called Alex Pretti 'a deranged individual that came in to cause max damage.' Can we expect those kind of quick responses if you are confirmed as secretary?

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: No sir. Those words probably should've been retracted. I shouldn't have said that. I regret… pic.twitter.com/f2uUaQFwwb
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 18, 2026

Kristi Noem's 'abhorrent' final DHS project already has an expiration date: insider

A final project pushed through by former Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem will be obsolete in just a few years, an insider claimed.

Noem, who has been moved to a new role as special envoy to the Shield of the Americas, had been working on a series of warehouse mega jails that set the department back $38 billion. The project was set to make space for 10,000 detainees of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's recent crackdown, in line with President Donald Trump's immigration policy.

But the project, overseen by Noem's chief adviser Corey Lewandowski, had not convinced longtime ICE operatives. With the pair set to be removed from their post by the end of the month, insiders told The Atlantic that efforts to acquire warehouses for the mega jail project had since slowed.

One of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "They’ve had a ridiculous timeline to rush everything through. Now everybody’s kind of going back to the drawing board and talking about resetting."

Another veteran ICE official said of the project, "If the goal is to not have endless illegal immigration, those centers will be obsolete in three to five years. The amount of money going into them is abhorrent."

Noem's warehouse mega jails were initially opposed by close Trump ally Stephen Miller, who believed the department should have opted for military bases and tent camps for those arrested by ICE.

The fate of these warehouse acquisitions is now reportedly in the hands of incoming DHS head Markwayne Mullin. Nick Miroff, writing in The Atlantic, suggested the jails would be a hard sell to members of the public.

He wrote, "A White House official told me the administration looks forward to Mullin’s 'speedy confirmation' and 'continuing to implement the President’s agenda in the most efficient and effective way possible.' If Mullin is confirmed as the new DHS secretary, he’ll need to launch a more concerted effort to sell the plan to state and local jurisdictions, three DHS officials told me.

"'They’re figuring out a way to better inform the public and the communities and the governor's offices and local officials, so they’re more involved,' one DHS official told me. ICE has started working on a Frequently Asked Questions page about the warehouses, the person said, but it’s not finished yet."

Mullin's influence muzzled already as Trump listens to one person on immigration: analysis

Donald Trump's latest administration appointment is already set to struggle, according to a political analyst who believes the incoming Department of Homeland Security head has a fight on his hands.

This is primarily because of who the president listens to when it comes to immigration and administrative tactics. Trump is reportedly reliant on Stephen Miller, the Homeland Security Advisor, and Markwayne Mullin stands no chance of shifting that influence according to The Hill.

A. Scott Bolden, a former New York state prosecutor, believes Mullin will be unable to sway the president on any new tactics for the future of the administration.

Bolden wrote, "The new face Trump wants to put on his war on unauthorized immigrants is Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who served in the House for 10 years before becoming a senator in 2023.

"Mullin will start serving as acting DHS secretary March 31 and will be able to hold that position while his nomination is pending in the Senate, where the Republican majority will likely confirm him to head the department.

"Crucially, even assuming Mullin is confirmed, much of Trump’s immigration policy will continue to be driven by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, an anti-immigration fanatic who advocates cruel mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants. This will limit Mullin’s influence."

Mullin may not even seek to rock the boat once he becomes a member of the administration either, with Bolden suggesting the loyalty he has to Trump is more important than his credentials.

Bolden wrote, "This blind loyalty to Trump — regardless of what the law or the Constitution says — helps explain the abysmal performance of the Trump administration in many areas. Too many Trump appointees, like Noem, don’t have the experience or ability to actually do their jobs."

"Mullin will have plenty of problems to wrestle with at Homeland Security. First up will be ending the partial shutdown of the agency by winning approval of funding for its operations this year, which is being blocked by congressional Democrats as they seek sensible reforms at ICE."

"I hope Mullin proves me wrong and turns out to be a great Homeland Security secretary who reverses many of Trump’s awful policies. I also hope to win millions of dollars in a lottery. Unfortunately, I believe the odds of both these hopes coming true are about the same."

Trump's DHS pick to replace Noem faces allegations of federal weapons crime

President Donald Trump's new choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), once employed a convicted felon at his personal business who committed a weapons felony on the premises, according to The Washington Post — and may have committed a federal crime himself in the process.

"The employee, Timothy L. Saylor, was previously convicted of felonies, barring him from owning firearms. He said Mullin knew his criminal history but nonetheless allowed him to store the weapons at Mullin Plumbing in Oklahoma," said the report. "'Markwayne knew I was a felon,' Saylor said in an interview with The Washington Post. 'Of course he knew. Because I told him.'"

This incident was known and heavily discussed when Mullin first ran for Congress in 2012, but at the time he claimed to have no knowledge of Saylor's criminal past, and that he hadn't run a background check because Saylor had been an existing employee at a business his company had purchased. Saylor's claims to The Post cast doubt over this.

"Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly provide a weapon to a felon," noted the report. "Mullin told authorities at the time that he gave Saylor guns 'to clean.' Mullin was never charged, according to court records."

Mullin is stepping in to replace former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who was unceremoniously fired amid a mountain of scandal after testifying in Congress that Trump authorized her to contract a $200 million ad buy of herself with government money.

A report this week indicates a potential deeper web of self-dealing, as a former DHS official was involved in steering the bidding process to a firm that subcontracted with another company owned by a man she later married.