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By Suzanne Blake
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The firing of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has set off an immediate wave of jokes, memes and sharp-edged commentary across social media, with prominent political figures, activists and parody accounts piling on within hours of the news breaking.
President Donald Trump made the announcement on Truth Social following two days of Noem testifying before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees. She will be replaced with Republican Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin if Congress approves the nomination.
Why It Matters
Noem was the most senior Cabinet official removed so far in Trump’s second term, making her firing a rare and high-profile shake-up at a department central to immigration enforcement, border security, and domestic law enforcement.
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Her departure also comes immediately after testimony before House and Senate committees, where lawmakers from both parties questioned her leadership and handling of DHS operations.
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What To Know
The Rogue POTUS Staff account made one of the most popular joke posts regarding the firing on Thursday.
“Breaking: Kristi Noem is fired. Senator Markwayne Mullin will be newly appointed DHS Secretary, ensuring the department maintains an equal level of stupid,” the account wrote on X.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also posted a false snapshot of Noem on LinkedIn with an updated work title of ‘DHS Secretary (Former), Public Speaker, Unlicensed Dog Euthanizer,’ and an ‘Open to Work’ badge.
The account @DisavowTrump20 wrote on the platform: “RETWEET if you stand with dogs against Kristi Noem!”
Meanwhile, @theRealThelmaJ1 wrote: “Kristi Noem, you're fired bish,” above a post showing two humans and a dog angel in heaven.
These posts refer to Noem’s 2024 memoir, which shared that she personally shot and killed her 14‑month‑old dog, a wirehaired pointer named Cricket, after deciding the dog was “untrainable” and dangerous. The incident occurred roughly two decades ago, while Noem was living on a ranch in South Dakota, but it became public when excerpts of her book were released.
By the end of the day, Noem’s firing had become one of the most joked-about political moments on X, with memes often spreading faster than straight news updates.
While supporters defended her record and criticized the tone of the reaction, much of the discourse treated Noem’s exit less as a somber political development and more as viral content.
Noem’s tenure had become deeply polarizing, even within Trump’s own base. While Trump publicly praised her results, her time at DHS was marked by controversy, including nationwide protests, a costly and highly criticized ad campaign, and intense backlash over immigration enforcement actions that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota.
Thaddeus Cleveland, the Republican sheriff of Terrell County, Texas, previously told Newsweek that Secretary Noem was “flashy and toxic.”
"Kristi Noem was flashy and toxic. I think all of DHS’s successes in the last year were in spite of, not because of, her leadership,” Cleveland said.
“She had also been micromanaging agencies, deploying assets to Minnesota politically, instead of tactically. She had no experience with border security nor immigration, and her allegiance was to herself and her own professional ambition, not DHS. She probably had a handful of supporters she lavished with senior roles and contracts, but she mostly had detractors.”
What People Are Saying
DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement: “Good riddance, Kristi Noem. Her tenure was a disaster for the American people — from waging a campaign of unconstitutional brutality that terrorized our communities, locked up toddlers, and killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota, to using taxpayer dollars as a slush fund to pay for her luxurious lifestyle.
“Donald Trump’s administration is in freefall. While Noem has caused irreparable harm to our communities, personnel change won’t be enough — Trump and his entire Cabinet are out of control. It’s time to stop the Trump administration’s chaos, restore Americans’ constitutional freedoms, and protect our citizens and communities from their cruelty and violence.”
Representative Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican and chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, told Newsweek: "I thank Secretary Noem for her service to our country. I look forward to continuing this Committee’s important work alongside DHS Secretary nominee Mullin, and I call for his swift confirmation.
“In the meantime, I urge my Democrat colleagues to make the right decision and stop playing dangerous games with DHS funding. As threats from Iran escalate, America must be fully prepared to respond to and mitigate heightened threats to the homeland.”
What Happens Next
Noem’s firing has many implications for DHS going forward. Trump’s choice to replace her with Senator Markwayne Mullin signals a potential reset at the department.
The move also sends a broader message to other Cabinet officials that public controversy and congressional pressure may carry consequences moving forward.
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