WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump suggested Thursday night that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s ouster was less about her job performance and more about elevating Sen. Markwayne Mullin to the Cabinet post.
In his first public comments since he fired Noem, Trump was complimentary of her year-plus tenure, while he also praised Mullin, R-Okla.
“She’s a fine person. She did a good job. I’m a big fan of the senator from Oklahoma. It wasn’t a hard choice,” Trump said in a phone call with NBC News.
He also dismissed the idea that there was a “last straw” regarding Noem’s performance and instead praised her handling of the border.
Trump, however, was critical of Noem when it came to her exchange with a Republican senator this week, when she was asked during congressional testimony about her role in approving contracts, particularly a $220 million ad campaign encouraging immigrants to self-deport.
“I wasn’t thrilled with it. I
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