Trump News

Kristi Noem's tumultuous tenure as Department of Homeland Security Secretary ended Thursday when Donald Trump unceremoniously and abruptly fired her—but her troubles are just beginning.

Hours after Trump announced Noem's dismissal on Truth Social, making her the first major Cabinet casualty of his second term, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a former federal prosecutor, announced he would pursue a criminal investigation into whether she committed perjury.

According to the New York Times, Blumenthal is calling for the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to examine whether Noem lied under oath during a Tuesday Senate hearing. She testified that Corey Lewandowski, her top "adviser," did not approve Department of Homeland Security contracts.

Blumenthal told reporters: "Her firing doesn't absolve her or relieve her of potential liability for perjury, and we are going to pursue an investigation of the evidence that she lied, because it relates to corruption in the administration."

Lewandowski, a longtime Trump ally serving as a "special government employee," had become a significant and controversial figure inside DHS as Noem's senior adviser.

During the Senate hearing, Blumenthal directly confronted Noem. "Does Corey Lewandowski have a role in approving contracts, and if so, what is that role?" he asked.

"His role is as a special government employee, and special government employees work for the White House and the administration," Noem responded.

"So, he does have a role," Blumenthal pressed. "No," Noem replied.

The next day, Blumenthal sent Noem a letter accusing her of misrepresenting Lewandowski's actual role. "Evidence suggests that your testimony was false," he wrote, noting that department records showed Lewandowski had "personally approved contracts" and that employees considered his signature a "green light" for spending.

Blumenthal warned of the legal consequences: "The law requires and Congress expects witnesses to provide complete and truthful testimony. There are criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully making materially false statements or representations to Congress."

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Donald Trump's reported decision to back incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) over far-right Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the upcoming runoff has left his MAGA base "befuddled" and furious, with grassroots supporters making their displeasure loudly known.

According to the Washington Post, Trump acknowledges both candidates carry liabilities but believes Cornyn's baggage is substantially lighter than Paxton's, who faced an acrimonious divorce, corruption allegations and an attempted impeachment.

Yet Paxton's uncompromising far-right positions hold far greater appeal to Trump's base, who view Cornyn as a Republican in Name Only (RINO) and resent his occasional criticism of Trump—an unforgivable transgression among MAGA loyalists.

While Trump can overlook Cornyn's occasional departures from his policies, many of his supporters are far less forgiving.

When word of Trump's endorsement intentions spread Wednesday, MAGA activists flooded social media with reminders of Cornyn's opposition to Trump's 2020 election overturn efforts and his 2023 comments suggesting Republicans should move past Trump.

Stephen K. Bannon, a former top Trump adviser broadcasting his "War Room" podcast from Texas for the past five weeks in support of Paxton, captured the sentiment: "This is why the grassroots is apoplectic. They hate Cornyn. They don't hate him because he's a 'RINO,' they don't hate him because of his record. They don't like him because of that, but they hate him because he has hated on Trump."

Mark Davis, a conservative Texas radio host closely attuned to Trump-supporting Republican activists, described the impossible position: "It is a massive ask for the president, love him though we may, to come in and say, 'Hey, that conservative that you love for the same reasons you love me? I want you to change your mind'" and not vote for Paxton.

Raheem Kassam, editor of the conservative National Pulse and MAGA-aligned political operative, observed that the backlash is morphing into something more troubling: "More than anger, it's creating apathy," referring to activists frustrated by Trump's support for Cornyn.

You can read more here.