Who is Markwayne Mullin? Trump’s pick to replace Kristi Noem at Homeland Security

Washington rarely sees a cabinet pick quite like this. On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma would replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with the change set to take effect on March 31.

Noem’s removal, reportedly driven by Trump’s anger over a controversial $220 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign that prominently featured her, cleared the way for one of the president’s most loyal congressional allies to step in.

Here is a closer look at Markwayne Mullin.

Who is Markwayne Mullin?

Markwayne Mullin, 48, is the junior Republican senator from Oklahoma who has been serving in Congress since 2013.

He first spent a decade in the House of Representatives before winning a special Senate election in 2022 to fill the seat vacated by the late Senator Jim Inhofe.

According to NPR, Mullin currently sits on several influential committees, including Appropriations, Armed Services and Indian Affairs.

He also continues to serve as a key member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Over the years, he has come to be widely regarded as one of Trump’s most dependable allies on Capitol Hill.

What was Mullin’s background before politics?

Mullin’s path to Washington has been far from conventional. He attended college on a wrestling scholarship but left early to take over his family’s plumbing business after his father fell ill.

He later earned an associate’s degree in construction technology and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

According to his official website, Mullin is also a former undefeated professional mixed martial arts fighter with a record of 5-0, a detail that Trump highlighted in his Truth Social announcement, where he described Mullin as a “MAGA Warrior” and a former undefeated professional MMA fighter.

Why did Trump pick him?

Trump was reportedly furious after Noem testified before a Senate panel that he had personally approved the $220 million advertising campaign without clearance from the White House.

The campaign, which prominently featured her, drew criticism from lawmakers in both parties and added to concerns about her leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, ultimately bringing her tenure to an end.

What is Mullin’s relationship with Trump?

The relationship between Mullin and Trump is widely described as exceptionally close. Senate Majority Leader John Thune once referred to Mullin as a “Senate whisperer” for Trump, someone capable of bridging the gap between the White House and lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

He served as a key campaign surrogate during the 2024 election cycle and reportedly helped reach out to Indigenous voters in several battleground states.

Over time, he has consistently backed Trump on major issues, ranging from the 2020 election to recent military strikes against Iran.

Is Mullin a member of a Native American tribe?

Yes. Mullin is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. He is the first tribal citizen to serve in the U.S. Senate since Ben Nighthorse Campbell left office in 2005 and only the second citizen of the Cherokee Nation ever elected to the chamber.

What is his stance on immigration?

According to NPR, Mullin has been among the most vocal defenders of Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda in Congress.

He supported border security provisions in Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” and has publicly defended agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Oklahoma Farm Report has also referred to him as “The Connector” for his role in bridging the White House and House Republicans on key legislative priorities.

Has he been involved in controversies?

Mullin has faced his share of controversies. In 2023, he made national headlines after challenging Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to a fistfight during a Senate hearing, an exchange that quickly went viral.

According to Slate, he was also reportedly overheard referring to Senator Rand Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee that will oversee his confirmation process, as a “freaking snake.”

That remark could become one of the more consequential controversies as his nomination moves forward.

What happens to his Senate seat?

If confirmed, Mullin’s departure from the Senate would trigger a replacement process in Oklahoma. The state’s governor would likely appoint a successor to serve until January 2027.

According to the Oklahoma Farm Report, names such as Congressman Kevin Hern and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond have already been mentioned as possible candidates.

What does his confirmation path look like?

Mullin must first clear the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which is chaired by Rand Paul, before his nomination can proceed to a vote in the full Senate.

Early signals suggest that his path may not be particularly difficult.

According to NewsNation, Democratic Senator John Fetterman has indicated that he would vote to confirm Mullin, while Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Thom Tillis have already offered strong endorsements of the nomination.

(With inputs from yMedia)