Thune Says Mullin DHS Confirmation on Track Despite Rand Paul's Opposition

Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed confidence that Sen. Markwayne Mullin's path to becoming the next DHS Secretary remains secure — even as the nominee's own committee chairman declared he would vote no. The Mullin DHS confirmation fight has become one of the more unusual spectacles of the 119th Congress: a sitting senator grilled by a fellow Republican wielding the gavel, with personal grievances spilling into a public hearing.

What Happened

Jordain Carney of Politico reported on March 18, 2026 that Thune dismissed concerns that Rand Paul's opposition would sink Mullin's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, became the first Republican to publicly announce he would vote against the Markwayne Mullin DHS nomination — but signaled he would not use his chairmanship to block the nomination from advancing. A Paul aide confirmed a committee markup would proceed as scheduled on Thursday.

The Mullin confirmation hearing that day was contentious. Paul pressed the Oklahoma senator to "explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues" to lead the department overseeing ICE and border agents. The feud traces back to Mullin reportedly calling Paul "a freaking snake" and saying he understood why Paul's neighbor attacked him in 2017 — an assault that left Paul with broken ribs.

President Trump nominated Mullin on March 5, 2026, the same day he fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. According to CNBC reporting, Noem's ouster was largely driven by her testimony before a Senate panel claiming Trump had personally approved a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign about DHS immigration enforcement.

Recap: How the Mullin Confirmation Hearing Unfolded

The Nomination

Trump announced Mullin as his pick for DHS Secretary via Truth Social on March 5, 2026, with an effective date of March 31. According to KOCO 5 News, Trump wrote that "the Highly respected Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security." The Senate confirmation process for Mullin moved quickly — just 13 days from announcement to hearing.

Mullin's status as a sitting senator was expected to ease his path. The DHS Secretary nomination drew early support from Oklahoma Republicans, including Rep. Tom Cole, who called Mullin a "fellow Native American" and praised his resolve, according to a White House article aggregating supportive statements.

The Paul-Mullin Feud

The March 18 hearing turned the Senate confirmation for Mullin into a personal reckoning. According to CBS News live coverage, Paul opened by saying Mullin was "jolly well fine" with the American people knowing that he "supported the felonious violent attack on me from behind." Mullin fired back: "It seems like you fight Republicans more than work with us."

Paul also pressed Mullin on classified international travel, asking the FBI whether Mullin had done work for the CIA, Pentagon, or other intelligence agencies. Mullin responded: "The president would never ask me to do that." Sen. Gary Peters joined Paul in pressing Mullin on special assignments and international travel, inviting him to discuss classified work in a secure location.

Despite the fireworks, Mullin presented himself during the hearing as a "different kind of DHS secretary" who would be a steady hand for the Mullin Department of Homeland Security tenure. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated that Mullin would "work tirelessly to implement the President's agenda" on issues ranging from protecting the homeland to stopping drug flows and removing criminal undocumented immigrants.

Thune's Confidence

Thune's public assurance that the nomination is not at risk is significant because Republicans hold a narrow Senate majority. Paul's defection means leadership needs near-unanimity from the rest of the conference — or Democratic crossover votes. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who has at times broken with his Democratic colleagues, was referenced in the broader context of the hearing dynamics.

Hill & Administration Take

Congressional Activity

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held Mullin's confirmation hearing on March 18, 2026, with a committee markup scheduled for Thursday. Paul's decision to allow the markup to proceed on schedule — despite his opposition — suggests the nomination will reach the full Senate floor without procedural delay.

On the Democratic side, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer weighed in at a news conference, saying "the rot in ICE is deep," according to CBS News — signaling that Democrats plan to use the confirmation fight to press broader criticisms of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

Administration Response

The White House has been actively building support. Beyond Trump's Truth Social announcement, the administration published an official article highlighting "bipartisan acclaim" for the nomination, featuring endorsements from lawmakers and agricultural leaders including Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Stacy Simunek, who praised Mullin as a "steadfast leader."

What the Media Is Reporting

Coverage of the Mullin DHS confirmation hearing extended well beyond the Politico report. The Washington Post reported that Paul criticized Mullin's "machismo" and that the feud centered on Mullin having called Paul a "snake" — details that added texture to the personal dimension of the clash. Rolling Stone's coverage emphasized that Paul is the first Republican to declare opposition and noted senators pressed Mullin on classified travel and how he would differentiate his management from Kristi Noem's tenure. Axios framed the confrontation around a dramatic opening moment in which Paul dared Mullin to confront him face-to-face, leading with the quote "tell me to my face." Alison Durkee of Forbes provided live updates focused on the specific allegation that Mullin refused to condemn the violent assault on Paul — a detail that became central to Paul's case against the nominee. Roll Call characterized the hearing as "often-heated" and "spicy," offering a Capitol Hill insider's view of the unusual nature of a sitting senator being grilled by colleagues.

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