Who is Markwayne Mullin? Trump’s pick to lead DHS after firing Kristi Noem

President Trump announced Thursday on Truth Social that he is firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and nominating Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma Republican, to replace her, capping a turbulent week that saw Ms. Noem’s Senate testimony over a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign anger the president.

So who exactly is the plumber-turned-mixed-martial-artist-turned-senator now tapped to run one of the federal government’s largest agencies?

From the ranch to the ring

Mr. Mullin, 48, was born in Tulsa on July 26, 1977, the youngest of seven children, and grew up on his family’s ranch in Westville, Oklahoma, where he and his family still live today. He attended Stilwell High School before enrolling at Missouri Valley College.

His plans changed when his father fell ill. At age 20, Mr. Mullin returned home with his new bride, Christie, to take over the family business: Mullin Plumbing.

Over the next two decades, the couple expanded the small plumbing operation into a larger home-services company serving eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. Mr. Mullin later returned to school and earned an associate degree in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in 2010, making him the only sitting U.S. senator without at least a bachelor’s degree.

SEE ALSO: Trump boots Kristi Noem, picks Markwayne Mullin as new DHS secretary

Before entering politics, Mr. Mullin also competed as a professional mixed martial artist, winning several bouts in regional competitions. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 and has remained active in youth wrestling programs.

A decade in Congress

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Mr. Mullin was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, representing Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District. He served five terms before running in a 2022 special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by longtime Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe.

He won that race and was sworn into the Senate in January 2023.

Mr. Mullin is also an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. His election made him the first Native American U.S. senator in nearly two decades and only the second Cherokee Nation citizen to serve in the chamber.

A combative Trump loyalist

Mr. Mullin has built a reputation as one of the most outspoken defenders of Mr. Trump’s agenda on Capitol Hill — and one of the Senate’s most colorful personalities.

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In 2023, he made national headlines during a Senate hearing when he stood up from his chair and challenged Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to a fight, declaring, “This is the time, this is the place.” The exchange prompted Sen. Bernie Sanders, who was chairing the hearing, to bang his gavel and restore order.

On immigration, a central mission of the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Mullin has been a vocal supporter of stricter border enforcement and has aligned closely with the Trump administration’s approach.

The confirmation battle ahead

Mr. Mullin’s path to confirmation could prove contentious.

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Most Senate Democrats are expected to oppose the nomination, and Republicans hold only a narrow majority in the chamber, meaning the administration will need near-unanimous GOP support to secure confirmation.

Mr. Mullin had earlier downplayed speculation about the role when asked by reporters Thursday, saying he had not discussed the position and was “not dealing with hypotheticals.” Hours later, Mr. Trump publicly named him as his choice.

Mr. Mullin and his wife have five children.

This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Steve Fink, Director of Artificial Intelligence, at sfink@washingtontimes.com

The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.