President Donald Trump has dismissed speculation that he might replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, expressing confidence in her performance. He referred to her as “fantastic,” saying during a business leaders’ roundtable, “Our border is the best border this country has ever had. Why would I be unhappy?”
His comments were a direct reply to various media reports. One source indicated that Noem felt she was “on very thin ice” and mentioned that Trump had contemplated making a change as early as January, with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller reportedly advocating for her replacement.
The claims of discontent within the White House were labeled as “completely fake news” by the administration. White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson criticized the reporting, asserting that Noem is effectively fulfilling her role and implementing the President’s policies. She added, “MS Now continues to deceive itself by fabricating a story that is simply not true.”
Additionally, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commented humorously on the situation, likening the reliability of the reports to tales about Bigfoot.
In the Thursday roundtable, Trump also refuted rumors regarding Army Secretary Pete Hegseth, stating that his views on Hegseth completely contradicted the negative narratives circulating about him. He described Hegseth as “phenomenal.” During the same event, Trump took a moment to praise Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
