Republicans turn on Noem, demand resignation
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Anger at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem coursed throughout the Senate on Tuesday, especially among senators who voted to confirm her.
Why it matters: Democrats disagreed on whether her departure would change the Trump administration's immigration policy. But Republicans, for the first time, broke ranks with President Trump on Noem.
- "She should be out of a job," said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who voted to confirm Noem.
- "I would not support her again, and I think it probably is time for her to step down," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who also voted to confirm Noem.
Zoom in: "Kristi Noem should resign or be removed," said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), one of seven Democrats who voted for Noem.
- "She clearly does not know what she's doing. She's not up to the job. She's lied to the American public, and it's time for her to go."
- Noem is "inept and absolutely incompetent," said Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in an interview with Axios Pittsburgh.
- "I have said that in a normal administration, she would have been asked to resign by now. This is obviously not a normal administration," said Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).
The other side: "I don't want a DHS Secretary Stephen Miller," said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who also voted for Noem.
- "Just her resignation would not be sufficient."
- "If she goes, we're going to get just another bad apple," Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) told reporters. "So we have to fix DHS."
Between the lines: Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who voted for Noem, dodged questions on whether she should resign. "I will have more to say about it tomorrow," she said.
The big picture: More than three-quarters of House Democrats now back impeaching Noem, Axios' Andrew Solender reports.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that if Trump doesn't fire her, he'll push ahead on impeachment.
The bottom line: Trump defended Noem on Tuesday, saying she's doing a "very good job." He also called Murkowski and Tillis "losers" and "terrible senators" in an interview with ABC News.
- For some Democrats, Noem's defenestration was another demand before they would consider voting to fund DHS and avoid a partial government shutdown.
- "I want to see Kristi Noem go. She should resign or be fired or be impeached," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
- "I think that the legislative conditions have to be separate from her going," he said. "I'm just adding it."
Editor's note: This article has been updated to add comments by Trump.
