Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania made a personal plea to President Trump to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem,” Fetterman wrote on social media, tagging the president.
“Americans have died. She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy,” he added.
Fetterman often acts as an independent voice in the Senate
He has said that – unlike other Democratic senators – he will not force a government shutdown over funding disputes involving the Department of Homeland Security.
More than half of all Democrats in the House of Representatives have signed on to a resolution from Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., to impeach Noem from office. But it’s unlikely to advance given Republican control of the chamber.
The White House has defended Noem, who reportedly met with Trump for two hours in the Oval Office on Monday evening along with Corey Lewdowski, her top aide at DHS.
The secretary “still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in her briefing on Monday.
But questions are growing about Noem’s handling of the fallout after two people were killed in altercations with the federal agents. She sought to portray Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old armed nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, as domestic terrorists.
The White House had distanced itself from that rhetoric, calling for an end to the violence while making it clear they expect local authorities to aid federal efforts in rounding up illegal immigrants.
.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump: I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem.
Americans have died.
She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy.
DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 27, 2026
Trump, in a move that was interpreted as sidelining Noem, announced Monday that he was sending Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to handle the situation on the ground. Additionally, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, an aggressive hard-charging leader, was ordered home from his position in the state.
Republicans also have been questioning the aggressive actions of ICE agents in Minnesota.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said the agents involved should be placed on administrative leave.
“Local police routinely put officers involved in deadly shootings on administrative leave until an independent investigation is concluded. That should happen immediately,” he said on Tuesday.
