Is Markwayne Mullin an Improvement Over Kristi Noem?

"If the key to success in any high-profile job is low expectations based on the poor performance of one's predecessor, President Trump's nominee for Homeland Security secretary, Markwayne Mullin, is a lucky guy. Kristi Noem leaves DHS in shambles and her own once-bright political career on the ropes. She managed - through well-documented incompetence, corruption, self-glorification, and even alleged moral turpitude - to discredit herself and her agency."

"Mullin's main credential is that Trump really likes him. But once upon a time, he really liked Noem as well. A plumbing contractor by trade before he entered politics, Mullin is probably best known for two things that have nothing to do with his senatorial duties: He is a certified member of the Cherokee Nation, making him the fifth Native American to serve in the U.S. Senate."

"On January 6, 2021, he physically confronted MAGA rioters and sought to defend his colleagues from the attacks. A few months later, he made a rogue trip to Kabul during the final evacuation of Afghanistan to try to rescue some trapped American civilians. He's a hands-on kind of guy."

Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma senator and Trump's nominee for Homeland Security secretary, assumes office with significant advantages due to his predecessor Kristi Noem's documented failures in leadership, competence, and ethics. Noem's tenure left DHS in disarray and damaged her political career despite alignment with Trump's deportation agenda. Mullin's primary credential is Trump's personal approval. A former plumbing contractor and mixed martial arts fighter, Mullin is notable as the fifth Native American senator. His background includes hands-on activism, including confronting January 6 rioters and conducting an unauthorized rescue mission in Afghanistan. His suitability for the DHS role remains uncertain, though he demonstrates engagement with substantive policy matters.

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