Minutes after President Donald Trump announced that he was firing her, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a keynote speech at a Nashville hotel on Thursday.
Noem, who was introduced as the “eighth Homeland Security Secretary,” didn’t acknowledge the change in leadership during her speech to law enforcement from across the country. Instead, Noem touted Trump’s mass deportations efforts and referenced their future work together.
When a Newark Police captain asked how to circumvent sanctuary city laws, Noem responded that she would work to lobby against legislation that prevents law enforcement from partnering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“I will continue to go talk to these governors, have conversations with leaders and state legislators, to see what I can do to push back on some of this legislation we’re seeing,” Noem said.
Trump broke the news about Noem’s role on Truth Social, writing that Noem had “served us well” with “spectacular results (especially on the Border!).”
Noem will still retain a position within Trump’s White House as the special envoy in a new DHS security program. Called “the Shield of the Americas,” the initiative aims to protect American technology from foreign use and crack down on drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, according to the program’s website.
Noem mentioned the Shield of the Americas initiative when answering a question about drug trafficking from a Memphis Police Department sergeant.
“(Drug cartels) are extremely, extremely wealthy and strong and sophisticated in the technology we see them using against us and their ability to operate in cyberspace as well,” Noem said. “That’s why President Trump is undertaking going after the cartels by addressing it from the Western hemisphere.”
She went on to preview an announcement for the Shield of the Americas happening Saturday in Florida.
“The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security. In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security,” Noem said on social media after leaving the venue.
If confirmed by the Senate, U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, will replace Noem as Homeland Security Secretary effective March 31.
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