After Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as Kristi Noem’s replacement for DHS Secretary, Jimmy Kimmel suggested a different “Wayne” would’ve made for a better pick.
During Tuesday’s monologue for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the comedian sounded off on Mullin’s credentials, given he was a former plumber and low-level MMA fighter-turned- junior United States senator from Oklahoma before being tapped to replace Noem.
“That’s right. We have a plumber protecting us from terrorism now,” Kimmel said Tuesday night. “Well, if it works for Super Mario, why not Markwayne?”
He continued: “But honestly, if Trump is going to keep picking these unqualified people to run the department, why not have more fun with it? I mean, next time, instead of Markwayne, how about Lil Wayne for Homeland Security? At least we could get a concert out of it, right?”
As Kimmel went on, he joked that Mullin’s predecessor, who was ousted earlier in March, “will never be seen again” — prompting a round of applause from the audience. Watch his full monologue below.
Trump took to Truth Social on March 5 and shared that Noem was out as Homeland Security Secretary after a controversial tenure, replacing her with Mullin.
“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida,” Trump wrote. “I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 24, 2026
I want to thank President Trump for entrusting me to lead the department leading the fight to Make America Safe Again. In one year, the patriots at DHS delivered the MOST…
On Tuesday, Noem penned a parting message on X, sharing she plans to “build on the years of national security expertise she forged” as she steps into her new role as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. You can read her full statement above.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.
