{"id":2576828,"date":"2026-03-06T08:18:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-insiders-say-noem-was-long-on-chopping-block\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T08:21:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:21:58","slug":"trump-insiders-say-noem-was-long-on-chopping-block","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-insiders-say-noem-was-long-on-chopping-block\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump insiders say Noem was long on chopping block"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-insiders-say-noem-was-long-on-chopping-block%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2576828&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Kristi noem\u2019s tenure as Homeland Security secretary ended amid controversy and internal friction, culminating in her replacement by Senator Markwayne Mullin and a shift to a new role as special envoy for \u201cThe Shield of the Americas.\u201d Insiders say her fate had been sealed for months, with tensions rising after a Senate hearing in which she was pressed over a $220 million DHS ad campaign and other leadership disputes, including disagreements with Border Patrol leadership over immigration enforcement. trump announced the move two days after the hearing, effective March 31, signaling a meaningful personnel change in his second term as the first Senate-confirmed cabinet secretary to be fired. Noem\u2019s departure followed a pattern of controversy during her DHS tenure,touching on policy,spending,and public statements,as well as personal headlines and questions about her loyalty and judgment.The White House publicly defended noem, while supporters and critics debated whether the replacement would strengthen or weaken the administration\u2019s border security messaging and policy.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">&lsquo;When, not if&rsquo;: Trump insiders say Noem was long on chopping block<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2524224\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Homeland Security Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kristi-noem\/\">Kristi Noem&rsquo;s<\/a> clash with GOP senators this week was the final straw for President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>, though insiders say her fate had been sealed long before Tuesday&rsquo;s hearing.<\/p>\n<p>Two days after that hearing, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4482026\/trump-ousts-kristi-noem-department-homeland-security-chief-markwayne-mullin-take-place\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4482026\">Trump announced<\/a> via social media that Noem would be replaced at DHS by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), effective March 31. In the same statement, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Trump<\/a> announced that Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, would become the new special envoy for &ldquo;The Shield of the Americas,&rdquo; a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere that&rsquo;s expected to be formally announced on Saturday in Doral, Florida.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4482837\/trump-transgender-sports-surgery-save-america-act\/\">Trump targets men in women&#8217;s sports and trans surgeries in new SAVE America Act checklist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4482701\/trump-ballroom-vote-delayed-april-public-criticism\/\">Trump ballroom vote delayed to April after flood of public criticism<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4482096\/dhs-trump-insiders-celebrate-kristi-noem-departure\/\">Tears of joy and relief: DHS and Trump insiders celebrate Kristi Noem departure<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Noem &ldquo;has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!),&rdquo; Trump wrote.<\/p>\n<p>People close to the president and current and former Trump administration officials say that, despite the White House&rsquo;s public support prior to this week, Noem&rsquo;s job had been dangling by a thread for months.<\/p>\n<p>A longtime adviser to the president told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Trump had considered replacing Noem during government shutdown negotiations in late January, but the removal would not have benefited the administration&rsquo;s position and could have even weakened it.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was always when, not if,&rdquo; that person reiterated Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>One former Trump administration official said that Noem sealed her fate by appearing to throw the president under the bus during her appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4478557\/senate-republicans-berate-kristi-noem-dhs-leadership\/\">amid a brewing scandal at DHS.<\/a> During the hearing, Noem was pressed by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) about a $220 million ad campaign DHS had undertaken with a firm with ties to Noem and her former spokeswoman.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;How do you square [cuts to DHS contracts] with the fact that you have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-trump-fires-dhs-secretary-kristi-noem-names-his-pick-to-replace-her\/\" title=\"Breaking: ... Fires ... Secretary Kristi Noem, Names His Pick to Replace Her\">spent 0 million running television advertisements<\/a> that feature you prominently?&rdquo; Kennedy asked Noem.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Sir, the president tasked me with getting the message out to the country and to other countries with putting commercials out that if they were in the country illegally, that they needed to leave,&rdquo; Noem replied.<\/p>\n<p>Trump was reportedly rankled by Noem&rsquo;s comments. Publicly, the president disputed the secretary&rsquo;s claim in an interview with <em>Reuters<\/em> on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;I never knew anything about it,&rdquo; he told the news wire service.<\/p>\n<p>Privately, Trump called Kennedy &ldquo;as mad as a murder hornet&rdquo; to discuss the situation. They also discussed the prospect of Mullin replacing Noem. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Her version of the truth and the President&rsquo;s version of the truth are decidedly different,&rdquo; said Kennedy. <\/p>\n<p>A former Trump White House official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Noem&rsquo;s new posting, rather than an outright firing, wasn&rsquo;t particularly surprising either.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Look, firing someone solidifies the fact that mistakes were made. But [Noem] really kind of tied his hands here,&rdquo; that person said. <\/p>\n<p>Noem&rsquo;s time atop DHS has been riddled with controversy. There were the two fatal shootings of anti-ICE protesters in January in Minneapolis, after which Border Patrol commander in chief Greg Bovino was replaced by Border Czar Tom Homan.<\/p>\n<p>Noem and Homan have been at odds over their different approach to Trump&rsquo;s desired crackdown on illegal immigration. Noem preferred widely publicized community raids over Homan&rsquo;s targeted operations and cooperation with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/51-lawmakers-warn-biden-immigration-order-could-make-border-crisis-catastrophic-overnight\/\" title=\"51 Lawmakers Warn Biden Immigration Order Could Make ... Crisis \u2018Catastrophic Overnight\u2019\">local law enforcement officials<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/corey-lewandowski\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1184\">Corey Lewandowski<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-biden-coronavirus-adviser-announces-last-day-in-job\/\" title=\"Top Biden Coronavirus Adviser Announces Last Day in Job\">special government employee<\/a> with whom Noem has a close personal and professional relationship and was Trump&rsquo;s campaign manager during the 2016 election cycle, has only caused additional heartburn among Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>During Tuesday&rsquo;s hearing, lawmakers pressed Noem about <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4480352\/kristi-noem-erupts-democrats-question-alleged-affair-corey-lewandowski\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4480352\">reports of a romantic relationship<\/a> with Lewandowski &mdash; an allegation she has previously denied. Two sources close to the president said the exchange only accelerated her departure.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was one of those things that everyone kind of knew about, but when you&rsquo;re already in the dog house, and it comes up in a very public setting like that, that&rsquo;s curtains,&rdquo; a veteran of the first Trump administration told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Noem also often <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-congress-to-prison-to-congress-pipeline\/\" title=\"The Congress to prison to Congress pipeline\">drew negative headlines<\/a> for reasons unrelated to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration policy<\/a>. Last year, her purse &mdash; along with her government access badge, apartment keys, $2,000-3,000 in cash, her passport, and blank checks &mdash; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3392757\/illegal-immigrant-arrested-dc-robbery-kristi-noem-bag\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"3392757\">was stolen while she dined <\/a>at a Washington, D.C. restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>In recent months, media outlets have covered her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >literal high-flying exploits<\/a>, including plans to shell out more than $300 million for a fleet of private luxury planes for DHS brass and mistreatment of Coast Guard aviators charged with shuttling her across the country.<\/p>\n<p>From a policy standpoint, Noem has taken fire for her decision to personally approve any DHS expenditure of more than $100,000. Critics say the micro-management has delayed the department&rsquo;s grant application process. <\/p>\n<p>Noem&rsquo;s reassignment marks the first time in Trump&rsquo;s second term that he has fired a Senate-confirmed Cabinet secretary, a significant departure from the heavy turnover that characterized his first term.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480144\/flooding-zone-hurting-trump-iran-message\/\"><strong>&lsquo;TOO MANY COOKS&rsquo;: IS FLOODING THE ZONE HURTING TRUMP&rsquo;S IRAN MESSAGE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump did nominate former national security adviser Mike Waltz last May as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations after the former congressman and Army Special Forces officer mistakenly added <em>Atlantic<\/em> editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal messaging app group chat discussing U.S. strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.<\/p>\n<p>In both cases, Trump and the White House repeatedly downplayed the idea that it was a demotion, concerned about the criticism the president received during his first term for presiding over a revolving door administration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you want a full paraphrase of the whole article, or a tight 55-character headline-style paraphrase? Here are two 55-character-or-less options:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Noem on chopping block; Trump reshuffles DHS<br \/>\n&#8211; Noem on chopping block as Trump reshuffles DHS<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019d like a longer summary or a full paraphrase of the piece, I can do that too<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3007,"featured_media":2576829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25321721937600.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[75219,6203,17368,8794,3634],"class_list":["post-2576828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-chopping-block-2","tag-gop","tag-insiders","tag-noem","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP25321721937600.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3007"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576828"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576832,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576828\/revisions\/2576832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}