President Donald Trump has firmly dismissed the notion of firing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, even as the administration faces mounting criticism regarding its immigration policies.
During the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Trump addressed questions about Noem’s position in an interview with NBC News anchor Tom Lamas. He was quite clear in his response.
“Why would you do that?” Trump questioned. “We have the strongest borders in our nation’s history. Our crime rate is at its highest since 1900.”
In the discussion, Trump emphasized Noem’s role, stating that the border was under control during her leadership. “Look, she was in charge of the border. The border was closed. People were pouring into our country,” he asserted, referencing a transcript from NBC.
When pressed further, he reiterated confidence in his administration’s efforts to combat illegal immigration. “They’re not even coming forward right now… Christie is very capable. You just asked me. We have the highest crime numbers in 125 years. I think she’s doing a very good job. Again, it’s public relations. She doesn’t get credit for the work she does,” Trump remarked.
During his speech, Trump also criticized former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, labeling Biden as “the world’s worst president” and referring to Obama as a “terrible divider.” He added, somewhat humorously, that he wouldn’t take it personally if Biden called him “the worst president in the world” since Biden seemed unaware he was president.
Trump described Obama’s presidency as “very bad,” claiming that he was divisive. Yet he insisted, “Believe it or not, we are bringing this country together,” highlighting what he considers the successes of his administration.
Continuing his trend of mockery, Trump maintained a pointed disdain for both Biden and Obama, even showcasing this disdain in the White House’s new “Presidential Walk of Fame.” The walk, opened in September 2025, includes presidential portraits and plaques detailing their legacies. Interestingly, Biden’s plaque features an autopen photo instead of a traditional one, with Trump’s nicknames for him, such as “Sleepy Joe Biden” and “Crooked,” inscribed, while Obama’s plaque notes him as “one of the most divisive politicians in American history.”
