Video News Clips: In Their Own Words
‘He’s Respected’: Democrat Senator Praises Trump’s Pick To Replace Kristi Noem At DHS
Peter Welch Praises Markwayne Mullin After Trump Tapped Him For DHS Chief
Democratic Vermont Sen. Peter Welch praised Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin on Thursday after President Donald Trump announced Mullin would replace Kristi Noem as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on March 31.
Trump’s announcement on Truth Social followed two Congressional oversight hearings where lawmakers pressed Noem on her role, two high-profile fatal DHS shootings in Minnesota and an alleged affair with her top aide. Welch predicted on CNN’s “The Arena” that Mullin would be successfully confirmed, calling him “competent,” “honest” and “respected.”
WATCH:
“He’ll be confirmed. The question is whether there’ll be bipartisan support for him. Markwayne Mullin is competent, and he’s honest. So those are two good things that Kristi Noem did not have,” Welch said. “This is going to give us an opportunity to have a real discussion about what’s going on with the Department of Homeland Security. Number one, what we saw with that rampage in Minneapolis cannot ever happen again. You had Kristi Noem, who essentially was calling two people who got killed domestic terrorists.”
Host Kasie Hunt asked Welch if he believed Mullin would get bipartisan support beyond Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman.
“He’s respected, he’s honest and he’s competent,” Welch said of Mullin.
“So the issue, I think, with Markwayne is going to be much more about the policy and what he is going to be offering us as we look ahead, rather than his personal qualities,” he said. “Because people respect Markwayne.”
Fetterman indicated on X that he was uncertain how many of his Democratic colleagues would back Mullin.
Mullin’s departure for DHS will leave his Senate seat vacant, leaving Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to appoint a successor.
Trump touted Mullin’s combined 10 years of experience in both chambers of Congress, dubbing him a “MAGA Warrior” who “truly gets along well with people.” He also underscored Mullin’s ability to advocate for Tribal Communities across the country as the first American Indian to serve as DHS Secretary.
“Markwayne will work tirelessly to keep our border secure, stop migrant crime, murderers, and other criminals from illegally entering our country, end the scourge of illegal drugs and, make America safe again,” Trump wrote. “Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security.”
Mullin responded on X.
“I am grateful to President Trump for nominating me to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” Mullin wrote. “I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the Senate and carrying out President Trump’s mission alongside the department’s many capable agencies and the thousands of patriots who keep us safe every day.”
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/Rumble/CNN)
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