The White House has rejected a report that said that President Donald Trump is considering replacing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who has overseen a major immigration crackdown central to the administration’s agenda.
The Bulwark reported on Saturday, citing three unnamed former DHS officials who are in touch with current staff, that Trump was considering moving on from Noem.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson wrote on X on Sunday: “Anonymous former staffers pretend to know what POTUS is thinking and the Bulwark treats them as credible?”
“This ‘report’—and the Bulwark—is total FAKE NEWS! Secretary Noem is doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda and Making America Safe Again.”
Why It Matters
The White House has sought to quell rumors that Trump is considering replacing Noem, who has been central to the administration’s aggressive immigration policies, which are becoming increasingly unpopular with Americans.
Reports that Noem might be replaced come amid wider speculation about a possible year-end cabinet shake-up. Any changes at DHS or other key posts could signal shifts in the administration’s priorities and strategy heading into the New Year.
What To Know
The Bulwark cited three former DHS officials who had served under both Biden and Trump who said that Trump is “considering moving on” from Noem, though the situation remains fluid.
Two of the officials suggested such a move could happen “really soon,” noting that Noem has reportedly taken on a smaller role in directing department memos.
The outlet reported that while Trump himself has expressed support for Noem, other top White House officials have grown frustrated with her leadership, particularly her employment of the controversial chief adviser Corey Lewandowski.
CNN reported in November that the DHS could be one of the departments that sees a shake-up before the end of the year, also noting that White House officials had grown frustrated with Lewandowski.
A person close to the White House told CNN at the time about Trump’s thinking: “Yes, he likes [Noem], but it has been brought to his attention that [Lewandowski] is a problem, and the agency is being mismanaged because of it.”
Lewandowski, however, denied the reports, telling The Bulwark: “None of that is true.”
The Bulwark noted that Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will be finishing his term in January, leaving him open for a potential Cabinet position. The three former DHS officials said that his name had been floated as a potential successor to Noem.
CNN previously reported that Youngkin has expressed an interest in serving in the administration in some capacity, but would favor a position focused on economic or business affairs rather than DHS.
Newsweek contacted Youngkin via email on Monday.
Noem has continued to publicly support the administration’s agenda, praising Trump while maintaining a prominent role in promoting the department’s immigration enforcement initiatives.
What People Are Saying
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem told the president at a Cabinet meeting last week: “Thank you for giving me a very interesting job. Some days it’s a little controversial too, but it’s been an honor to work for you. You are a great American. The fights that you pick are the right fights, and they’re on behalf of this country. So I appreciate the chance to do this job heading up this department.”
What Happens Next
The White House has expressed continued support for Noem, suggesting her position is secure for now. Any broader cabinet shake-up could occur in the coming weeks as Trump weighs his options for the New Year.
