U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) issued a statement following President Trump’s nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“I appreciate Secretary Noem’s service to our country. She will do a great job dealing with the drug cartels in her new role as Special Envoy for The Shield of Americas, and I know she will continue to contribute in the future. However, I think it was time for a change.
“President Trump could not have chosen a better candidate to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security than Senator Markwayne Mullin.
“Markwayne understands the enemies we face, and he has been intimately involved in dealing with threats against our homeland in the public and private sectors. He is one of the most knowledgeable people I know regarding how to protect America. Markwayne is an outstanding choice and I hope he gets the overwhelmingly bipartisan vote that he deserves.
“He is one of the most prepared people President Trump could’ve picked for the role. I know he will hit the ground running on day one.”
Graham serves as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, where he released updated legislative text for a border-security funding bill in June 2025, according to his official website. He focuses on robust national defense and fiscal responsibility and represents South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since his first election in 2002 (source). Graham operates within U.S. government as a senator (source).
