President Trump has selected Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) — a former undefeated MMA fighter — to replace Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security, branding him a “MAGA Warrior” and lauding his impressive career in the octagon.
Mullin, 48, was elected to the Senate in 2022 to serve out the remainder of the late Sen. Jim Inhofe’s term and was up for re-election to a full six-year term later this year.
He previously represented the Sooner State in the House of Representatives for a decade.
A married father of six children, three of whom are adopted, Mullin is also a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and is the only current senator to not hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Mullin’s background includes a brief successful career as an MMA fighter (record: 5-0), as well as the owner of a family plumbing company.
In 2023, Mullin went viral for challenging Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to a fight during a Senate hearing after the two had sparred on social media.
What is his relationship with President Trump?
Mullin is known for his close relationship with President Trump.
“The president, as you guys know, we’re great friends, and we get along great. I look forward to working with him in his cabinet,” Mullin told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
The president returned the sentiment in a Truth Social post announcing Noem’s departure and that he would be taking the reins, saying he’s done a “tremendous job” representing Oklahoma and will make a “spectacular” DHS secretary.
“A MAGA Warrior, and former undefeated professional MMA fighter, Markwayne truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda,” Trump said, touting his Cherokee heritage.
“As the only Native American in the Senate, Markwayne is a fantastic advocate for our incredible Tribal Communities,” he wrote.
“Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
What is Markwayne Mullin’s political background?
Mullin was first elected to the US House in 2012 to represent Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District. He ran as a political outsider and leaned into his rancher background.
He’s maintained his tight relationships with the US House — even after being elected to the Senate in 2022 to succeed the retiring GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe.
That same year, Mullin introduced resolutions to purge Trump’s impeachments from the Congressional Record, with support from House Republican Conference Chair Elisae Stefanik (R-NY).
However, the Democratic-led House at the time did not pass the measures.
Mullin, who has six kids, is a staunch abortion opponent, including in cases of rape or incest or if the pregnancy puts the mother’s life at risk.
He famously said during the 2022 Republican runoff election that if his own wife was at risk during pregnancy neither he nor she would want to get an abortion.
In 2020, Mullin, along with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — who was then a representative from Hawaii — introduced the Protect Women’s Sports Act, which would have cracked down on institutions allowing biological male athletes from competing against women or girls.
Here’s the latest on the firing of Kristi Noem
“Female student athletes are being placed against biologically male peers where the competition is so disproportionate that it’s tough to even consider it ‘competition,’” he said in a statement at the time.
Mullin voted in favor of President Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.
What is next for Markwayne Mullin?
The DHS secretary must be approved by the Senate. Mullin would be expected to have a confirmation hearing before his colleagues and then receive a full vote on the Senate floor.
Mullin is likely to sail through the confirmation process in the GOP-led Senate. One Democrat is already supporting him.
“I’m not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague [Mullin] as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) wrote on social media.
