President Donald Trump came to the defense of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday night, alleging that the growing criticism directed at her is rooted in sexism rather than substance.
Noem has faced intense scrutiny during a turbulent and deadly month in Minnesota, where immigration enforcement operations have resulted in two deaths, the detention of children, and the arrest of asylum-seekers. The controversy has sparked calls for her resignation, including from some Republicans and at least two Republican senators. The situation has placed Noem at the center of a political firestorm as the administration attempts to respond to unrest and criticism tied to federal immigration actions.
Amid the backlash, an associate of Noem relayed comments attributed to the secretary, suggesting she viewed the decisions under fire as coming from higher up the chain of command. According to Axios, Noem told the individual that everything she had done was carried out at the direction of the president and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
As tensions escalated, the Trump administration took steps aimed at stabilizing the situation in Minnesota. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino was withdrawn from Minneapolis, and Border Czar Tom Homan was dispatched to the city. The moves were described as efforts to calm the situation following days of unrest and criticism of federal enforcement actions.
Noem appeared publicly with the president on Thursday during a televised Cabinet meeting, though she did not speak during the session. Hours later, she went on Fox News in an apparent effort to address the controversy and contain the political damage.
On Friday, Trump took to Truth Social to issue a forceful defense of his homeland security secretary, arguing that the attacks against her were driven by her gender. In a lengthy post, the president accused what he described as “Radical Left Lunatics, Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Thugs” of targeting Noem because she is a woman, while praising her performance as DHS secretary.
Trump said Noem has done “a really GREAT JOB,” pointing to what he described as the resolution of the border crisis he inherited. He credited his administration with fixing the border disaster, removing or pursuing violent criminals who entered the country under what he called former President Joe Biden’s open-border policies, and driving the national murder rate to its lowest level in 125 years. Trump also claimed that Washington, D.C., is now among the safest cities in America, along with other cities he said were once dangerous.
The president urged Republicans not to be intimidated by Democrats, whom he accused of stealing billions of dollars from Minnesota and other cities and states. He alleged that protests surrounding immigration enforcement are being used as a distraction to conceal criminal behavior and acts of insurrection. Trump concluded by reiterating that he was elected on a platform of strong borders and law and order, thanking Noem for her service and reminding voters that elections have consequences.
The president’s comments underscore his determination to stand by Noem amid mounting pressure, framing the controversy as a politically motivated and gender-driven attack rather than a failure of leadership within his administration.
[READ MORE: Hillary Clinton Blames MAGA for Minnesota Killings, Labels Federal Enforcement “Savagery”]
