Getting fired by Donald Trump is one thing. Getting shut out of the White House afterward is something else entirely.
Just a week after removing Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, Trump has reportedly made it clear that he does not want to see her around the White House.
According to reports, her team has been told she will not be attending upcoming events, including the White House celebration for Women’s History Month and a reception for rodeo champions.
The official explanation from the administration sounds far more polite. Noem has been given a new role as Special Envoy for the “Shield of the Americas,” a security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. Vice President JD Vance described the move as an opportunity and a continuation of her work on security issues.
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But the situation inside Washington appears more complicated than that.
Reports suggest the tension between Trump and Noem had been building for months. Problems reportedly started earlier this year when federal officers under the Department of Homeland Security killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during an operation. The incident sparked outrage and political pressure, and Trump was said to have privately considered firing Noem back in January. At the time, he reportedly decided against it because he did not want the move to look like he was giving in to criticism from Democrats.
The final break appears to have come during a Senate hearing.
While testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Noem told lawmakers that Trump had personally approved a $220 million advertising campaign run by the Department of Homeland Security. The ads prominently featured Noem herself and promoted the administration’s immigration policies.
Soon after the hearing, a White House official pushed back strongly on the claim, telling reporters that Trump had never approved a $220 million campaign. The response was blunt and left little room for interpretation. Within about 48 hours, Noem was out of her position.
The advertising campaign itself had already been drawing attention on Capitol Hill. During the hearing, Senator John Kennedy questioned the spending, noting that nearly $80 million had already been spent airing the ads in 2025 alone. That number did not include production costs.
Kennedy also raised concerns about how the contracts were awarded. In one case, a vendor selected for the campaign had reportedly been formed only 11 days before it received the contract. The details added fuel to the controversy and increased pressure on the department.
Now the issue is expanding into formal investigations. House Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan have both launched inquiries into DHS contracting during Noem’s time leading the agency.
Inside the department, reactions to her departure have reportedly been mixed. Some officials told reporters that frustration had been building for months. According to one Homeland Security source, many employees felt exhausted by the internal drama and leadership style surrounding Noem and her allies.
Meanwhile, Trump has already picked a replacement. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a longtime Trump supporter and former mixed martial arts fighter, will take over the role at the end of the month.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
