From fighter to senator: Five facts about Trump’s new homeland security pick Markwayne Mullin

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on March 5 named Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as his pick to be homeland security chief and replace Ms Kristi Noem
, who has faced bipartisan criticism in hearings this week over a US$220 million (S$281 million) ad contract.

Here are five facts about Mr Mullin, a former mixed martial arts fighter, whose appointment to the role will require US Senate confirmation.

Early years

Mr Mullin, the youngest of seven children, is the son of a plumbing contractor and grew up in Westville, Oklahoma, near the state’s eastern border with Arkansas.

He originally attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship but took over the family business due to his father’s ill heath, expanding its plumbing operations across the state.

He is a former mixed martial arts fighter who has been inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame.

He has also previously hosted a talk show that gave home repair advice.

Congressional career

In November 2012, Mr Mullin won Oklahoma’s 2nd district and took his seat in the House of Representatives in January 2013, a district that he represented for a decade.

In 2022, Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe said he would resign early, prompting a special election.

Mr Mullin easily defeated his Democratic rival in the November 2022 vote and entered Congress in January 2023.

As a member of the Cherokee Nation, his success made him only the fourth Native American to become a senator at the time of his election win.

Political positions

Mr Mullin strongly opposes abortion and has supported numerous efforts in Congress to tighten restrictions.

On immigration, he supports completing the border wall between the United States and Mexico.

He was a strong supporter of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that Congress passed in 2025 and provided extra funding to immigration enforcement.

Mr Mullin has consistently opposed transgender women competing in women’s sports.

He has been a strong supporter of Mr Trump while the President has been in and out of office, and has often appeared on Fox News as a prominent and steadfast backer of Republican positions.

‘Stand your butt up’

In a viral moment in 2023 that gained traction around the world, Mr Mullin rose from his chair during a hearing of the Senate’s health committee to challenge Teamsters president Sean O’Brien to “stand your butt up” and fight.

Mr Mullin paraphrased from a post on X by Mr O’Brien about the senator: “What a clown, a fraud. Always has been, always will be. Quit the tough guy act in these Senate hearings. You know where to find me. Any place, any time cowboy.”

“Sir, this is a time, this is a place, if you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here,” he said, while pointing to the floor separating the two.

After more to-and-fro, Mr Mullin said “Stand your butt up then”, to which Mr O’Brien responded, “You stand your butt up.”

Mr Mullin then rose from his seat and moved to remove his wedding ring.

At that point Senator Bernie Sanders, who was chairing the hearing with union presidents, said to Mr Mullin: “You’re a United States senator, sit down.”

Personal life

Mr Mullin is married to Mrs Christie Mullin and the pair have six children – Jayce, Jim, Andrew, Larra, Ivy and Lynette.

They live in his home town of Westville, Oklahoma. REUTERS