DHS responds to Jimmy Kimmel for making fun of Sec. Mullin’s plumbing history

DHS Responds to Jimmy Kimmel’s Remarks on Secretary Mullin

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a statement defending Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin after comedian Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at his working-class background.

A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Mullin’s journey from his family’s plumbing business to serving in the presidential cabinet showcases the American spirit. They remarked, “Secretary Mullin represents America’s blue-collar world at its finest, and struggling comedian Jimmy Kimmel has chosen to ridicule him for that.”

The spat started when Kimmel humorously questioned Mullin’s qualifications on his show last week, comparing the former senator to the iconic Nintendo character, Mario the Plumber. “Now we have plumbers to protect us from terrorism,” Kimmel joked.

Mullin, who attended college on a wrestling scholarship, left school to manage his family’s plumbing business when his father fell ill. Before stepping into his role as Secretary of Homeland Security, he had a lengthy career in both the House and Senate representing Oklahoma.

DHS further emphasized, “In what other country could a young plumber from rural Oklahoma one day get fed up and run for Congress, serve his community in the House and Senate, and then be called into a presidential cabinet to protect his country?”

Kimmel later responded to the backlash during a monologue, clarifying that he wasn’t upset about Mullin’s past as a plumber but about him not pursuing that career anymore. “To be clear, I’m not mad that the Secretary of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I’m mad that he still isn’t a plumber,” Kimmel added, suggesting that conservative commentators misinterpreted his remarks.

In his defense, Kimmel explained, “I don’t want to put a plumber in charge of the Department of Homeland Security for the same reason you don’t call in a five-star general to pull a rat out of a toilet.” He urged that everyone has their own specialties.

The DHS also noted President Donald Trump’s comments from “The Five,” where he described Mullin as “country smart” and well-respected. Mullin was confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security by the U.S. Senate last week.