Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem may be facing serious headwinds within the Trump administration, according to Fox News anchor Bret Baier.
During an appearance on The Brian Kilmeade Show on Tuesday, Baier suggested that despite public statements of support from the White House, recent moves behind the scenes tell a different story.
Following a tense two-hour meeting, it appears Noem has been stripped of her authority over operations in Minneapolis, a significant change that hands control directly to Tom Homan.
Baier noted that Homan, widely seen as a hardliner on border issues, will now report directly to President Trump on the situation in Minnesota.
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This bypasses Noem completely and hints at deep internal conflicts. Baier described “bad blood” within the department.
There have been reports that Homan had been unable to get his phone calls returned by Noem for months, accordign to Kilmeade.
For an administration focused on decisive action, that kind of breakdown in communication is a major liability, and the President seems to be stepping in to fix it personally.
The shake-up comes as the administration tries to manage the fallout from another deadly shooting in Minneapolis. While the political temperature is high, Baier observed a shift toward calming things down. He pointed out that both the White House and local leaders are trying to de-escalate the rhetoric. RELATED: Surprise Truce: Trump And Walz Agree To ‘Cool Down’ Tensions In Minnesota
This mirrors comments from Senator Ted Cruz, who recently warned that coming out “guns blazing” with aggressive language immediately after a tragedy can actually hurt the administration’s credibility.
Beyond the internal power struggles, there is looming talk of a government shutdown. Baier explained that while some Democrats might see a shutdown as a chance to score political points, it’s a risky strategy.
He noted that key enforcement agencies like ICE are already funded well into the future, meaning a shutdown would likely hurt travelers and disaster relief efforts more than it would stop border operations.
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Interestingly, the conversation ended on a surprising note about the future of immigration policy. Baier highlighted that while polls show strong support for deporting criminals, there is also broad support for helping long-term residents who have been in the country for decades.
He suggested President Trump might be playing a “long game,” potentially looking for a solution that balances strict enforcement with a pathway for those who have established lives here—a move that would definitely shake up the political landscape before the next midterms.
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