Trump Addresses Requests To Fire DHS Secretary Kristi Noem With One-Word Response
President Trump said Tuesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will remain in her position, rejecting suggestions that she might resign as criticism mounts over her handling of recent deadly encounters involving federal agents.
Asked directly on the South Lawn of the White House whether Noem would step down, the president was unequivocal.
“No,” he told reporters.
“I think she’s doing a very good job.”
Noem has come under intense scrutiny following two fatal incidents involving federal officers. In public remarks, she described Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old armed nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, as domestic terrorists, language that sparked backlash across the political spectrum.
While the administration has since softened its tone, Noem will remain in office following an extended meeting with Trump late Monday evening at the White House, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
At the same time, Trump announced a series of moves that were widely viewed as shifting operational control away from Noem. On Monday, he revealed that border czar Tom Homan was being dispatched to Minnesota to manage the situation firsthand. Separately, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, known for his aggressive leadership style, was instructed to return home from his post in the state.
Although Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller echoed Noem’s description of the two individuals, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to draw a clearer line between the president and that characterization.
During Monday’s press briefing, Leavitt was asked whether Trump agreed with labeling Pretti a domestic terrorist.
“I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way,” she said. “However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself.”
Even as the administration stepped back from the rhetoric, Trump publicly reaffirmed his confidence in his senior team. He praised Noem’s performance and included Miller on his trip to Iowa, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks focused on the economy.
Before leaving Washington, Trump also offered a positive assessment of Homan’s efforts in Minnesota.
“I hear that’s going very well,” he said, referring to Homan’s discussions with Gov. Tim Walz.
Homan’s assignment was intended to stabilize the situation both on the ground and in the political arena, as concerns spread within Republican circles over Noem’s response to the deaths and the scale of force used by federal authorities.
Trump also addressed the investigation into Pretti’s death, saying he expects a thorough and fair review and plans to monitor it closely.
“We’re doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation — I have to see it myself,” he said Tuesday while departing the White House for Iowa.
The fatal shooting of Pretti, which occurred Saturday during a confrontation with federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, is now under review by multiple agencies. The Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are each conducting their own examinations of the incident.
{Matzav.com}
