Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security

THE BORDER REPORT Fact-Check Edition  |  Published: March 12, 2026  |  U.S. Politics & Immigration

Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security: What’s Real and What’s Spin?

A full fact-check of the viral claims — and the verified story behind Trump’s newest DHS nominee

⚠️  FAKE NEWS ALERT:  A widely circulated article claims Markwayne Mullin is already serving as DHS Secretary with sweeping enforcement powers in place. That is false. As of March 12, 2026, Mullin is a NOMINEE who has not yet been confirmed by the Senate. His confirmation hearing is scheduled for March 18, 2026.

Introduction: The Viral Claim and Why It Matters

A piece of political content has spread rapidly online, making bold assertions about Senator Markwayne Mullin taking over as Secretary of Homeland Security. The article paints a triumphant picture: a combat veteran turned DHS chief who is already executing mass deportations, crushing cartels, and permanently ending catch-and-release. It’s vivid. It’s emotionally charged. And several key claims in it are either exaggerated or flatly untrue.

Here’s the thing — the core news story is real. President Donald Trump did nominate Senator Mullin to lead DHS. But the viral version wraps that real event in a layer of political mythology that misrepresents the facts. This article will separate the two: exposing the false claims, and reporting the actual, verified news accurately.

Let’s begin with what actually happened.

The Real News: What Actually Happened on March 5, 2026

Trump Fires Kristi Noem, Nominates Mullin

On March 5, 2026, President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he was removing Kristi Noem from her position as Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem, who had served as DHS head since January 2025, faced bipartisan criticism over her handling of the agency. Her ouster came just two days after a bruising congressional hearing where even Republican senators — including Thom Tillis of North Carolina — publicly condemned her leadership as a “disaster.”

Trump simultaneously announced his intention to nominate Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace her. Noem’s official last day is March 31, 2026. Mullin would assume the role only after a successful Senate confirmation vote.

Trump’s exact words: “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.”

Why Was Noem Removed?

The viral article frames Noem’s exit as a story about past “weakness” giving way to new strength. The reality is more specific and less flattering. According to reporting from multiple outlets, Noem came under fire for:

• Using taxpayer funds to pay for private jet travel and an expensive personal advertising campaign
• Bipartisan outrage in Congress over controversial immigration enforcement tactics, including the handling of unrest in Minneapolis
• A chaotic House Judiciary Committee hearing where she was asked about a personal relationship with her chief advisor, Corey Lewandowski — a question she refused to answer on camera
• Republican senators privately and publicly losing confidence in her operational leadership

Noem was not fired for being too lenient. She was fired over scandal, mismanagement, and congressional embarrassment — a crucial distinction that the viral narrative omits entirely.

Fact-Check Summary: Claims vs. Verified Reality

The table below breaks down the major assertions from the viral article against the verified facts from credible news sources including NPR, CNN, CNBC, PBS NewsHour, Axios, and The Hill.

Claim Category	What Was Said	Verified Fact
Mullin’s role	Already Secretary of DHS	Nominated; hearing set for March 18, 2026 — not yet confirmed
Military background	Former combat veteran	No military service record; he is a former MMA fighter & Cherokee Nation citizen
Support level	100% support from all patriots	Bipartisan split; most Democrats oppose; even Rand Paul is a potential obstacle
Noem replacement reason	Weakness / open borders	Noem fired over scandal, misuse of funds, and bipartisan criticism of her DHS management
Policies in place	Mass deportations already running	Trump’s stated goals; actual policies still subject to confirmation, courts, and Congress

Claim-by-Claim Breakdown: What’s False and What’s True

Fake Claim #1: Mullin Is Already Secretary of Homeland Security

❌ FALSE:  The article treats Mullin as if he has already taken over DHS and is executing policy.

 

✅ VERIFIED FACT:  As of March 12, 2026, Mullin is a nominee. His Senate confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled for March 18, 2026. He has not been confirmed, has not been sworn in, and has not assumed any DHS authority.

CNN legal analyst Thomas Berry of the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center confirmed that Trump’s announcement on Truth Social — while authoritative as a statement of intent — cannot unilaterally make Mullin the DHS Secretary. The position requires Senate confirmation. If Mullin is not confirmed by March 31, a deputy secretary would assume the acting role.

Fake Claim #2: Mullin Is a ‘Former Combat Veteran Who’s Seen Real War’

❌ FALSE:  The viral article claims Mullin is a ‘former combat veteran who’s seen real war’ — implying military service in a war zone.

 

✅ VERIFIED FACT:  There is no publicly documented record of Markwayne Mullin serving in the U.S. military. He is a former undefeated professional MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter — a fact Trump himself mentioned in his announcement. Mullin is also a plumbing company owner and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. These are impressive credentials, but they are not military combat service.

This is a significant factual error that conflates MMA fighting with military combat. The two are entirely different. Misrepresenting a nominee’s background — even in a favorable way — is misinformation.

Fake Claim #3: He Has ‘100% Full Support From Every Patriot’

❌ MISLEADING:  The claim of universal support from all Americans who care about border security is pure political rhetoric, not fact.

 

✅ VERIFIED FACT:  Mullin’s nomination is politically divided. Most Senate Democrats have said they will not support him, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Even within Republican circles, Senator Rand Paul — who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee that will hold Mullin’s hearing — has a documented history of clashing with Mullin. Democrat Senator John Fetterman broke with his party to announce support for Mullin.

Fake Claim #4: Mass Deportations and Wall Construction Are Already Underway Under Mullin

❌ FALSE:  The article implies Mullin is already executing sweeping enforcement policy at DHS.

 

✅ VERIFIED FACT:  These are Trump’s stated policy goals that he hopes Mullin will pursue if confirmed. They are not current actions being taken by Mullin. DHS enforcement under Noem — including reported figures of around 670,000 deportations in 2025 — were conducted before Mullin was ever nominated.

Fake Claim #5: Noem Was Replaced Because of ‘Weakness on the Border’

❌ MISLEADING:  The viral piece frames Noem’s exit as ideological — weak enforcement replaced by strong enforcement.

 

✅ VERIFIED FACT:  Noem was removed primarily due to scandal and congressional backlash — not a softening of immigration policy. In fact, Fox News reported that under Noem, DHS achieved record drug interdictions of over half a million pounds of illegal drugs, and oversaw more than 670,000 deportations. Noem was not removed for being too lenient; she was removed because her political management of the agency had become untenable.

Who Is Markwayne Mullin? The Verified Profile

Background and Early Life

Markwayne Mullin, 48, is a Republican Senator from Oklahoma who has served in the Senate since 2023. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2012, representing Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District — a rural, traditionally Democratic stronghold that had shifted conservative.

Born in Westville, Oklahoma, Mullin is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation — making him the first tribal citizen to serve in the U.S. Senate in nearly two decades. He has been a plumbing company owner, running a business known as “The Red Rooter” with distinctive red vans across Oklahoma.

Athletic Career: MMA, Not Military

Mullin was a competitive wrestler in college and went on to have an undefeated record as a professional MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter. This fighting background has shaped his personal brand in Washington. It is the source of the “combat” reference in the viral article — but MMA fighting and military combat service are entirely different things.

Senate Career and Trump Relationship

Mullin became one of Trump’s most reliable allies in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described him as a “Senate whisperer” for Trump — someone who could translate legislative thinking to the president and successfully influence his positions. Their relationship deepened when the two attended an NCAA wrestling event together in Tulsa in 2023.

Some notable Senate moments include:

• Challenging Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to a physical fight during a 2023 congressional hearing after O’Brien posted criticism of him on social media
• Defending Pete Hegseth against alcohol abuse allegations during his confirmation hearings in January 2025
• Serving on the Senate Armed Services, Appropriations, and Health committees
• Playing a bipartisan role during the record-long government shutdown negotiations in 2025

Controversies

Mullin is not without controversy. He received at least $1.8 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans intended for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic — distributed across four separate businesses he owned. A spokesperson said he was not involved in day-to-day operations and referred questions to the CFO. Critics argued this was a misuse of relief funds designed for struggling businesses.

What Happens Next: The Confirmation Process

Senate Hearing: March 18, 2026

Mullin’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled for March 18, 2026 — just days from now. This is where senators will question him about his qualifications, policy positions, and plans for leading DHS.

Key Obstacle: Rand Paul

The committee’s chair, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, has had documented clashes with Mullin in the past. Paul is not a reliable vote for Trump nominees, having blocked others in the past. While Mullin may enjoy smoother-than-average confirmation odds as a sitting senator (senators tend to vote for colleagues), Paul’s committee chairmanship gives him procedural leverage.

Bipartisan Landscape

Democrat Senator John Fetterman announced he would vote to confirm Mullin — a notable break from his party. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would not support Mullin, framing the DHS problems as systemic rather than about personnel. Most Democrats are expected to oppose the nomination.

The March 31 Deadline

Noem’s last official day is March 31, 2026. If Mullin is not confirmed by then, federal law requires the deputy secretary — currently Troy Edgar, a Navy veteran and former California mayor — to assume the acting secretary role. Mullin cannot serve as acting secretary while still a sitting senator.

What Mullin Has Said About Immigration Policy

While Mullin is not yet confirmed, his public statements offer a clear preview of his likely policy direction:

• He has stated he will be “laser-focused on protecting the homeland” regardless of political support
• He told reporters he would enforce laws passed by Congress and protect the homeland without exception
• Following a Supreme Court case related to birthright citizenship, he said children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents should be removed along with their parents
• He championed border security provisions in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”
• He publicly defended ICE agents during periods of increased attacks on immigration enforcement personnel

Mullin also stressed a willingness to listen to concerns: “If they have real concerns, I’m going to listen to them. I’m going to see if it’s practical. But nothing is going to prevent me from doing my job.”

Why the Fake Framing Is Harmful — Even If You Support Mullin

You might support Trump’s immigration agenda. You might be excited about Mullin’s nomination. That’s a perfectly legitimate political position. But the viral article does supporters a disservice in several concrete ways:

It Creates False Expectations

When people believe sweeping enforcement is already underway under confirmed leadership, they may be unprepared when the reality — a confirmation hearing, political battles, legal challenges, and policy timelines — plays out more slowly. Political disappointment often flows from inflated expectations.

It Weakens Credibility

If advocates of strong border enforcement are seen as spreading misinformation — even in the direction of their preferred policies — it weakens their credibility in broader public debate. Accurate messaging is more persuasive than exaggerated messaging, especially with persuadable voters.

It Misrepresents Mullin’s Actual Record

Calling Mullin a “combat veteran who’s seen real war” is factually wrong. Mullin deserves to be represented accurately. His real credentials — Cherokee Nation citizenship, MMA career, Senate leadership, business ownership — are genuinely interesting without embellishment.

Key Takeaways: The 6-Point Summary

1. Trump did nominate Mullin to lead DHS — this part of the story is REAL, confirmed March 5, 2026.
2. Mullin is NOT yet confirmed or serving as Secretary — his hearing is March 18, 2026.
3. He is NOT a military combat veteran — he is a former professional MMA fighter and Cherokee Nation citizen.
4. Noem was fired for scandal and bipartisan political failure — not ideological softness on immigration.
5. Mullin’s support is divided along party lines — most Democrats oppose, one Democrat (Fetterman) supports.
6. The policies described in the viral article are aspirational campaign-style statements — not confirmed, enacted policy.

Sources and Further Reading

This article draws on reporting from the following credible sources:

• NPR — “What you need to know about Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s new pick to lead DHS” (Updated March 7, 2026)
• CNN Politics — “Who is Markwayne Mullin, named by Trump to replace Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary?” (March 5, 2026)
• CNBC — “Who is Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s new pick to lead DHS?” (March 11, 2026)
• PBS NewsHour — “Who is Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s new pick for DHS?” (March 5, 2026)
• The Hill — “Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing to lead DHS formally scheduled” (March 11, 2026)
• Axios — “What to know about Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s new Homeland Security pick” (March 5, 2026)

THE BORDER REPORT — Fact-Check Edition

Published: March 12, 2026  |  This article is intended for informational purposes. All claims verified against primary reporting as of publication date.