Republicans on Capitol Hill aren't exactly weeping over the abrupt departure of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Louisiana's John Kennedy, who clashed with Noem at her Senate hearing on Tuesday, said President Trump was 'mad as a murder hornet' after she claimed he had personally signed off on a $200 million vanity advertising campaign to boost her national profile. 

North Carolina's Thom Tillis — who is not seeking re-election this year and has been a consistent thorn in Trump's side — also welcomed the move, taking a not-so-veiled shot at Noem by noting that her replacement - Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma - 'likes dogs.'

Noem admitted to shooting her former farm dog, Cricket, in her 2024 book No Going Back. Top Trump ally Lindsey Graham also said it was simply 'time for a change.' The South Carolina Republican offered a gracious send-off for Noem — 'She will do a great job dealing with the drug cartels in her new role as Special Envoy for The Shield of Americas' — before adding that Trump 'could not have chosen a better candidate' than Mullin.

Meanwhile Pennsylvania Democratic John Fetterman said he plans to back Mullin for the top DHS role. 'I'm not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague @SenMullin as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE,' Fetterman posted on X. Trump announced his staffing change, effective at the end of the month, via a post on Truth Social Thursday. Democrats across Capitol Hill are rejoicing at the news. 'Kristi Noem is gone. Pam Bondi is next. Keep the pressure on these extremists,' wrote US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 'Well, now we don’t have to impeach her,' House Oversight ranking member Robert Garcia mused.