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.
Graham expressed appreciation for outgoing Secretary Noem, stating, “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.”
He continued by endorsing Mullin’s nomination: “President Trump could not have chosen a better candidate to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security than Senator Markwayne Mullin.”
Graham highlighted Mullin’s experience, saying, “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 added, “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.”
Senator Graham has focused on national defense and fiscal responsibility during his tenure in Congress, according to his official website. He currently serves as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and released updated legislative text for a border-security funding bill in June 2025. Graham represents South Carolina in the U.S. Senate and was first elected to this position in 2002.
