Trump Taps Former MMA Fighter Markwayne Mullin as New DHS Secretary

Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, is known as a 'Trump whisperer' and vocal supporter of the president's immigration policies.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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President Trump has nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to replace Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mullin, a former MMA fighter, is a staunch defender of Trump's border policies and has served as a key intermediary between the White House and congressional Republicans.

Why it matters

Mullin's nomination signals that the Trump administration plans to continue its hardline approach to immigration enforcement and border security. As DHS Secretary, Mullin would oversee agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which have been at the center of the administration's controversial immigration crackdown.

The details

Trump announced plans to nominate Mullin on Thursday, pushing out the current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Mullin, 48, has been a vocal supporter of Trump's border policies and national security agenda during his time in the Senate. He is also known as a 'Trump whisperer,' frequently communicating with the president and serving as a key go-between with congressional Republicans.

  • Trump announced plans to nominate Mullin as the new DHS Secretary on March 6, 2026.

The players

Markwayne Mullin

A Republican senator from Oklahoma and former MMA fighter who has been a staunch defender of Trump's immigration policies and served as a key intermediary between the White House and congressional Republicans.

Kristi Noem

The current Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who is being pushed out by Trump in favor of Mullin's nomination.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who is nominating Mullin to replace Noem as the new DHS Secretary.

Brian Mast

A Republican Congressman from Florida who described Mullin as a 'fighter, right? Literally and figuratively' and said that's why Trump chose him for the DHS role.

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What they’re saying

“Markwayne is a fighter, right? Literally and figuratively. And a proven fighter in the Senate, proven fighter in the House.”

— Brian Mast, U.S. Representative (Wall Street Journal)

What’s next

The Senate will need to confirm Mullin's nomination before he can officially take over as the new DHS Secretary.

The takeaway

Mullin's nomination signals that the Trump administration plans to maintain its hardline approach to immigration enforcement and border security, with the new DHS Secretary expected to continue the controversial policies of his predecessor.