Former wrestler, border hawk: Who is Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s new Homeland Security pick?

The Republican senator has been selected to replace Kristi Noem as DHS head amid the continued standoff with Democrats over immigration

US President Donald Trump has named Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as his nominee for secretary of homeland security.

Mullin replaces Kristi Noem, who was dismissed following bipartisan criticism over her handling of the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both killed by immigration officers in Minneapolis.

On Truth Social, Trump described the Republican senator as a “warrior” with the necessary “wisdom and courage” to advance his America First agenda. He told NBC that he was a “big fan” of Mullin, adding that “it wasn’t a hard choice” to nominate him.

Wrestler-turned-senator

Mullin enjoyed a brief career in mixed martial arts and collegiate wrestling, compiling a 5‑0 record, before leaving the sport to take over his family’s plumbing business. He was first elected to Congress in 2012 and served three terms in the House before becoming a senator in 2023.

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When he first ran for the House, Mullin presented himself as an outsider frustrated with government regulations on businesses. However, he later faced controversy for receiving substantial funds from a federal Covid-19 rescue program, totaling between $800,000 and $1.9 million for four separate businesses he owned, according to PBS.

In 2023, Mullin challenged Sean O’Brien, head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to a physical fight during a Senate hearing. He told CNN at the time that physical violence could be an effective way to deal with “keyboard warriors” who speak online without facing consequences.

An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin is the first tribal citizen to serve in the Senate in roughly two decades.

Homeland Security hardliner

In the Senate, Mullin has been a staunch supporter of Trump’s policies on immigration and law enforcement. He defended the shootings of Good and Pretti as justified, describing Pretti as a “deranged individual who came in to cause massive damage with a loaded pistol,” according to Forbes. He also supported Noem’s claims that federal agents were responding to acts of domestic terrorism.

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Mullin backed Trump’s efforts to limit birthright citizenship, arguing that babies born in the US to undocumented parents should be deported alongside them. He claimed there is “a whole industry” of bringing pregnant women “in their last month” on vacation visas to secure US citizenship for their children.

In February, Mullin told CNBC that everyone should carry proof of citizenship and present it to law enforcement when asked.

“Yes, I’m a Republican, yes I’m conservative,” Mullin said following his nomination. “No matter if you support me, you don’t support me, I’m going to be laser-focused on getting that done.”

He also criticized Democrats in Congress for a partial government shutdown that led to a funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security in February, saying, “They’re not stopping [immigration agents] from doing their job.”

Standoff with Democrats

If approved by the Senate, Mullin will take over as the new head of the DHS on March 31. In addition to facing widespread criticism for her response to the deaths of Good and Pretti, his predecessor, Noem, was accused of using departmental resources for self-promotion and flashy publicity stunts.

Mullin will have to oversee the implementation of Trump’s tough crackdown on illegal immigration in Democrat-led cities, where political leaders have refused to cooperate with federal agents and activists often attempt to block their work.