Trump fires controversial Homeland Security Secretary Noem

This makes Noem the first minister from the current US administration to have to step down. She is now to take up the post of Special Envoy for the "Shield of the Americas", a new security initiative for the Western Hemisphere. Trump thanked Noem for her commitment. The Western Hemisphere usually refers to the twin continent of America.

According to Trump, Mullin was a member of the US House of Representatives for ten years and a senator for three years. "Markwayne will be an outstanding Secretary of Homeland Security," the President announced. He would be responsible for border security and tackling crime committed by undocumented migrants.

Once Trump's preferred candidate

Noem - once Trump's preferred candidate for the post - was previously governor of South Dakota and had made a name for herself as a staunch supporter of the Republican. Even before her appointment as minister, she described the situation on the USA's southern border with Mexico as a "war zone".

At times under discussion as Trump's running mate, her memoirs made negative headlines: In it, Noem described how she shot her young dog Cricket because she was not suitable to be a hunting dog. She later explained that this showed her willingness to make tough decisions.

Noem was in trouble

At a Senate hearing, the 54-year-old was recently cross-examined on deaths during immigration and border control operations against migrants and on the tactics of her ministry. The sometimes brutal operations had led to nationwide protests. Critics accuse the government under Noem of violating civil rights.

At the end of January, Trump had demonstratively backed Noem. "I think she's done a very good job," he said after the fatal shooting of two US citizens by federal officers during clashes with residents. As a result, a budget dispute broke out over the course and funding of immigration policy. While Republicans are calling for even stricter measures in some cases, Democrats are criticizing the expansion of powers and demanding greater parliamentary control and transparency in return for funding.

Campaign worth millions led to criticism

During the hearing, Noem repeatedly emphasized that her ministry's measures serve national security and have a legal basis. She was also asked whether she wanted to revise her earlier statements that the US citizens killed should be regarded as "domestic terrorists". The description was subsequently called into question by video footage and local reports. Noem explained that she had relied on reports from forces on the ground and expressly refused to retract her statements or apologize.

Noem's main downfall, however, was a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to deter illegal migration. A Republican senator noted that the campaign had been used for self-promotion rather than effective enforcement. Noem then claimed that the budget for this had been approved by Trump - in response, the senator said he could not imagine this, as it would put Trump in an "extremely awkward position". Trump himself subsequently said that he had not agreed. Overall, the hearing showed that concerns about Noem's leadership behavior are now bipartisan.