President Donald Trump has made clear that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will not be stepping down amid mounting criticism of controversial federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, White House officials said.
Trump, speaking to reporters Tuesday, confirmed that he still has confidence in Noem’s leadership and has no plans to ask her to resign. He said Noem is doing a “very good job” overseeing the Department of Homeland Security’s activities, even as lawmakers from both parties have called for her removal following two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minnesota.
As Fox News reports:
His statement comes as Noem is facing widespread criticism after federal agents killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota this month.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., called on Trump to fire her directly on Tuesday. In a post on X, the senator accused Noem of “betraying” the department’s central mission.
“I make a direct appeal to immediately fire Sec. Noem,” Fetterman wrote.
“Americans have died. She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary,” he said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Trump continues to back Noem, stressing that she retains the president’s confidence. Trump has also deployed other senior officials, such as Tom Homan, to address specific aspects of the Minnesota situation without displacing Noem.
The administration’s reaffirmation of support for Noem comes as it navigates the political and public fallout from highly visible immigration enforcement operations that have drawn increasing criticism and heightened political division nationwide.
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