Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski call for Noem’s ouster as GOP frustrations grow
Who's accountable for the results?
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) emerged Tuesday as the first Republican lawmakers to demand the “termination” of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid mounting frustration over the fatal shootings of two citizens by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.
Tillis, who is not seeking reelection in November, said he’d lost “all” confidence in Noem and has communicated to the White House that Trump should fire her if she refuses to resign.
“I think she’s out of her depth,” Tillis said. “She’s proven that she doesn’t know how to lead, how to de-escalate. She’s exposing ICE officers to dangerous situations. She’s exposing U.S. citizens to deadly, deadly situations.”
Tillis questioned Noem’s judgment for accusing Alex Pretti, the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protester who was killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis over the weekend, of perpetuating “domestic terrorism” in the immediate hours after the deadly encounter.
“What sort of judgment is that, for somebody who’s running a very consequential, important organization?” Tillis said.
The call for Noem’s ouster was echoed by Murkowski, a centrist who is not up for reelection but is no stranger to bucking her party and Trump. Murkowski told reporters that Noem “needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen.”
The resignation calls, along with the refusal by other Republicans to defend the Trump Cabinet secretary or their willingness to openly criticize the rhetoric of her and other senior administration officials, revealed the depths to which GOP senators wanted to separate themselves from Noem’s handling of the chaos in Minneapolis. She’s slated to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3 but is concerned about keeping her job amid the PR nightmare, sources told the Washington Examiner.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) declined to say if he maintained confidence in Noem as calls from Democrats grow louder for her resignation, firing, or impeachment.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“That’s the president’s judgment call,” Thune said of Noem. The Republican leader described the administration as facing an “inflection point” with mass deportation operations in Maine and Minnesota, presenting an “opportunity to evaluate, and to really assess the …
Who's accountable for the results?
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) emerged Tuesday as the first Republican lawmakers to demand the “termination” of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid mounting frustration over the fatal shootings of two citizens by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.
Tillis, who is not seeking reelection in November, said he’d lost “all” confidence in Noem and has communicated to the White House that Trump should fire her if she refuses to resign.
“I think she’s out of her depth,” Tillis said. “She’s proven that she doesn’t know how to lead, how to de-escalate. She’s exposing ICE officers to dangerous situations. She’s exposing U.S. citizens to deadly, deadly situations.”
Tillis questioned Noem’s judgment for accusing Alex Pretti, the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protester who was killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis over the weekend, of perpetuating “domestic terrorism” in the immediate hours after the deadly encounter.
“What sort of judgment is that, for somebody who’s running a very consequential, important organization?” Tillis said.
The call for Noem’s ouster was echoed by Murkowski, a centrist who is not up for reelection but is no stranger to bucking her party and Trump. Murkowski told reporters that Noem “needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen.”
The resignation calls, along with the refusal by other Republicans to defend the Trump Cabinet secretary or their willingness to openly criticize the rhetoric of her and other senior administration officials, revealed the depths to which GOP senators wanted to separate themselves from Noem’s handling of the chaos in Minneapolis. She’s slated to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3 but is concerned about keeping her job amid the PR nightmare, sources told the Washington Examiner.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) declined to say if he maintained confidence in Noem as calls from Democrats grow louder for her resignation, firing, or impeachment.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“That’s the president’s judgment call,” Thune said of Noem. The Republican leader described the administration as facing an “inflection point” with mass deportation operations in Maine and Minnesota, presenting an “opportunity to evaluate, and to really assess the …
Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski call for Noem’s ouster as GOP frustrations grow
Who's accountable for the results?
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) emerged Tuesday as the first Republican lawmakers to demand the “termination” of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid mounting frustration over the fatal shootings of two citizens by federal immigration officers in Minnesota.
Tillis, who is not seeking reelection in November, said he’d lost “all” confidence in Noem and has communicated to the White House that Trump should fire her if she refuses to resign.
“I think she’s out of her depth,” Tillis said. “She’s proven that she doesn’t know how to lead, how to de-escalate. She’s exposing ICE officers to dangerous situations. She’s exposing U.S. citizens to deadly, deadly situations.”
Tillis questioned Noem’s judgment for accusing Alex Pretti, the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protester who was killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis over the weekend, of perpetuating “domestic terrorism” in the immediate hours after the deadly encounter.
“What sort of judgment is that, for somebody who’s running a very consequential, important organization?” Tillis said.
The call for Noem’s ouster was echoed by Murkowski, a centrist who is not up for reelection but is no stranger to bucking her party and Trump. Murkowski told reporters that Noem “needs to be accountable to the chaos and some of the tragedy that we have seen.”
The resignation calls, along with the refusal by other Republicans to defend the Trump Cabinet secretary or their willingness to openly criticize the rhetoric of her and other senior administration officials, revealed the depths to which GOP senators wanted to separate themselves from Noem’s handling of the chaos in Minneapolis. She’s slated to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3 but is concerned about keeping her job amid the PR nightmare, sources told the Washington Examiner.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) declined to say if he maintained confidence in Noem as calls from Democrats grow louder for her resignation, firing, or impeachment.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“That’s the president’s judgment call,” Thune said of Noem. The Republican leader described the administration as facing an “inflection point” with mass deportation operations in Maine and Minnesota, presenting an “opportunity to evaluate, and to really assess the …
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