Rick Santorum to Newsmax: Noem Shift Political, Not Performance Based

Former Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Rick Santorum told Newsmax on Thursday that President Donald Trump's decision to remove Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary was more of a political move and that Trump was satisfied overall with her performance.

Trump announced on Truth Social that Noem was reassigned to a new role overseeing a Western Hemisphere security initiative. He also said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., was his nominee to replace Noem as DHS secretary.

"I look at what actually happened, Trump didn't fire her. He actually gave her another assignment," Santorum, a senior Newsmax political analyst, told "American Agenda."

"You know, [for] Trump, that's a big deal. If Trump doesn't like what you're doing, he's not shy about firing you."

He added, "I think this really shows that he actually was pleased with what Kristi was doing. … she has a long and very impressive list of accomplishments for DHS — probably the hardest job other than the president in the administration."

DHS has been partially shut down since Senate Democrats last month blocked a House-passed appropriations bill for the current fiscal year after their demands for changes to immigration enforcement were not met.

Although the shutdown has not affected the administration's immigration enforcement efforts, it has halted funding for other DHS components, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Transportation Security Administration.

"He didn't fire, he reassigned her," Santorum said. "He thanked her for her service."

"He didn't get rid of her. You know, when you get fired, you leave that day."

"She's not leaving until the end of the month. So you read between the lines here," he added.

"What you see is this is more of a political consideration than it is Donald Trump not happy with the job that's being done, and it's a reset."

Santorum also noted that Mullin, a member of the Senate Armed Forces and Appropriations committees, must be confirmed by the Senate before he can take over, meaning there will be an acting head at DHS until that happens.

"And the other thing is, [Trump] said, well, Markwayne Mullin is going to take over," Santorum said. "No, he's not."

"He has to get confirmed. So there will probably be a vacancy at DHS for a period of time."

"There will be somebody who will be acting [secretary]. But, you know, [Mullin has] got to get through the confirmation process," he continued.

"And the Senate is only in session for 10 days between now and when Kristi Noem leaves. This is something that I think he did for political reasons."

"But I think it shows, at least for me, that he was very much behind Kristi and what she was doing in the process."

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who had called for Trump to fire Noem, wrote Thursday on X that he would vote to confirm Mullin.

"As a member of the Homeland Security Committee + Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Border Security: I'm not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague @SenMullin as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE," Fetterman wrote.

GET TODAY NEWSMAX :

NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!

Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.

You need to watch NEWSMAX today.

Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!

Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now

BEST OFFER:

Sign up for NEWSMAX and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.

Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.

Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!

Watch NEWSMAX on your smartphone or home TV app.

Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!