Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina delivered a blunt rebuke of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday, saying her handling of the situation in Minnesota has risen to the level of disqualifying incompetence and that she should be removed from her post.
Noem has come under intense scrutiny following her public claim that Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old man fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, committed an act of “domestic terrorism.” That characterization has sparked widespread backlash across party lines and shifted the political focus away from immigration enforcement and onto the department’s leadership.
Tillis did not mince words when asked about Noem’s performance, arguing that her actions have damaged President Donald Trump politically on an issue where he has strong public support.
“I think that what she’s done in Minnesota should be disqualifying. She should be out of a job,” Tillis told reporters. “I mean, really, it’s just amateurish. It’s making the president look bad on policies that he won on.”
The senator said Trump ran and won on a clear message of border security and strong immigration enforcement, but that message has now been drowned out by controversy surrounding DHS leadership.
“I think [Trump] won on a strong message on immigration. And now nobody’s talking about that,” Tillis said. “They’re not talking about securing the border. They’re talking about the incompetence of the leader of homeland security.”
Tillis also took aim at Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who was reportedly removed from his role after publicly claiming that Pretti intended to “massacre” immigration agents — an assertion that has been heavily questioned.
“Bovino, whatever his name is — he needs to go back to California, get his retirement papers, and go,” Tillis said. “These people are amateurs.”
Tillis was not alone in breaking ranks. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a frequent critic of the administration, told reporters Tuesday that it was “probably time” for Noem to step down, signaling growing unrest among Republicans over how the department has handled the situation.
Their comments mirrored calls from House Democratic leadership, which released a statement the same day demanding that Noem be fired immediately or face potential impeachment proceedings in the House. While Democrats have seized on the controversy to attack the administration, the fact that senior Republicans are echoing similar concerns has intensified pressure on Noem.
President Trump publicly defended Noem earlier Tuesday during an interview with Fox News host Will Cain, but signs suggest the administration is already moving to limit her role in the Minneapolis situation. Trump border czar Tom Homan is expected to travel to the city to take direct oversight of operations, effectively sidelining Noem from the response.
The president said the move was intended to “shake up” the immigration team and restore focus on enforcement priorities, a tacit acknowledgment that the handling of the situation had become politically and operationally problematic.
As the fallout continues, Republican leaders are increasingly warning that missteps by senior officials risk undermining an immigration agenda that enjoys broad support among GOP voters. For Tillis and others, the message was clear: leadership failures, especially on high-stakes issues like border security, come with consequences.
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