President Donald Trump Fires Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary

President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and said in a March 5 Truth Social post he would replace her with Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, effective March 31.

“Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem readies to testify at the House Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearing of the Department of Homeland Security, March 4, 2026 in Washington”

PolitiFact

Trump simultaneously announced a new title for Noem — 'Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas' — which PolitiFact reports is "part of a new western hemisphere security initiative he plans to announce March 7."

PolitiFact

PolitiFact also notes that "Trump and Noem provided no details about her new job."

PolitiFact frames Noem as a prominent public figure within the administration’s immigration agenda, describing her as "one of the most visible administration figures spreading immigration falsehoods".

PolitiFact also calls her "the public face of what Trump calls the largest domestic mass deportation operation in U.S. history."

PolitiFact

The article presents this characterization as the background to her dismissal.

PolitiFact documents specific instances where Noem made false or unsupported claims: it says she "falsely said no American citizens had been arrested as part of sweeping enforcement efforts".

“Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem readies to testify at the House Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearing of the Department of Homeland Security, March 4, 2026 in Washington”

PolitiFact

PolitiFact also says she "inaccurately said the majority of detained immigrants had criminal records."

The site adds that she "quickly labeled two U.S. citizens fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis as domestic terrorists, although that was not supported by the facts," citing these as examples of the inaccurate messaging tied to her tenure.

PolitiFact places Noem’s dismissal in the context of scrutiny over her handling of public funds and messaging: "Noem’s firing came days after she faced questions from senators about spending $220 million on ads."

"Some reports said Trump was furious about Noem’s answers about the ad campaign," the article adds.

PolitiFact

PolitiFact points to the content of that outreach, noting a "one minute-long TV ad shows Noem on horseback at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota..." in which she states, "Anyone who searches for freedom can always find a home here. But that freedom is a precious thing, and we defend it vigorously."

PolitiFact also provides a procedural and visual context: it includes an AP photo caption noting Noem "readies to testify at the House Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearing of the Department of Homeland Security, March 4, 2026 in Washington."

“Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem readies to testify at the House Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearing of the Department of Homeland Security, March 4, 2026 in Washington”

PolitiFact

The article reiterates that "Trump and Noem provided no details about her new job."

PolitiFact

PolitiFact underscores that officials announced the personnel change and titles but offered few specifics about the envoy role or the planned initiative.