A Republican senator publicly broke ranks with President Trump to demand the resignation of his own party’s DHS Secretary, calling her “incompetent” and accusing her of destroying the GOP’s advantage on immigration enforcement through amateurish decision-making.
Story Snapshot
- Senator Thom Tillis became the first GOP senator to call for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation, labeling her incompetent and damaging to Republican immigration messaging
- Tillis criticized Noem for prematurely calling a slain ICU nurse a “domestic terrorist” before completing an incident report following a fatal Border Patrol shooting in Minneapolis
- President Trump defended Noem and refused her resignation despite mounting bipartisan pressure and Democrat threats to commence impeachment proceedings
- Over 140 House Democrats have signed impeachment articles against Noem, with Democrat leadership threatening to block government funding including DHS operations
- Senator Lisa Murkowski joined Tillis in expressing lost confidence in Noem’s leadership, though both stopped short of supporting impeachment efforts
Republican Senator Breaks Ranks Over DHS Leadership
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina delivered a stunning rebuke of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday, becoming the first Republican senator to publicly demand her resignation. Tillis told reporters on Capitol Hill that Noem is “incompetent” and “I think she should go,” marking an extraordinary break with the Trump administration on its signature immigration enforcement policy.
The retiring senator, known for occasional independence from party leadership, criticized Noem’s handling of a fatal shooting incident in Minneapolis and characterized her decision-making as “amateurish.” Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska quickly echoed Tillis’s concerns, stating she has “lost confidence” in Noem and believes “we would be better served with new leadership.”
Fatal Shooting Sparks Political Firestorm
The controversy erupted following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a thirty-seven-year-old intensive care unit nurse, by two Customs and Border Protection agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis on January twenty-fifth. Pretti was recording federal operations and appeared to be attempting to assist a woman knocked down by agents when he was shot.
Noem immediately labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” before an incident report was completed, prompting Tillis to call it “amateur hour at its worst.” This incident followed another fatal shooting by an ICE officer that killed Renée Good, intensifying Democrat calls for accountability.
Tillis warned that the administration has “destroyed” the Republican advantage on immigration through incompetence, undermining a core campaign strength.
Trump Stands Firm Despite Mounting Pressure
President Trump firmly rejected calls for Noem’s resignation, stating she is “doing a very good job” and “not stepping down” while crediting her with achieving a dramatic drop in border crossings. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Noem “still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president,” signaling Trump’s unwillingness to sacrifice his DHS secretary despite bipartisan criticism.
CBS News reported that Noem faces internal administration scrutiny but is expected to retain her position, with her focus potentially shifting from interior enforcement to southern border security.
Senator Lindsey Graham defended both Noem and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller against Tillis’s criticism, demonstrating continued support within portions of the Republican caucus for aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
Tillis becomes first GOP senator to call for "incompetent" Noem to step downhttps://t.co/DsQfz7ksTB
— Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) January 28, 2026
Democrats Escalate With Impeachment Threats
House Democrat leaders escalated the confrontation by threatening to “commence impeachment proceedings” if Trump refuses to remove Noem from office.
More than one hundred forty of two hundred thirteen House Democrats have signed onto impeachment articles introduced by Illinois Representative Robin Kelly on January fourteenth, demonstrating substantial support within the caucus for formal removal proceedings.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer intensified the pressure by calling Noem “a liar,” “vicious,” and “incompetent,” while threatening to block government funding that includes DHS operations ahead of a Friday shutdown deadline.
However, both Tillis and Murkowski stopped short of supporting congressional impeachment efforts, limiting Democrat leverage for actual removal. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called for a “full and impartial investigation” into Pretti’s death while praising Trump’s decision to deploy border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis, attempting to balance accountability with support for enforcement operations.
The political crisis reveals tensions within Republican ranks over immigration enforcement tactics, with retiring senators willing to publicly criticize competence failures even while supporting border security priorities.
Trump’s steadfast support for Noem demonstrates his commitment to maintaining controversial appointees regardless of political cost, potentially signaling that personnel decisions will be driven by loyalty rather than external pressure.
The incident threatens to undermine Republican messaging on immigration enforcement heading into future election cycles, as Tillis warned, creating an unexpected vulnerability on an issue that traditionally favors conservative candidates.
Democrat impeachment threats remain largely symbolic without Republican support, but the bipartisan criticism of Noem’s handling of the Minneapolis shooting creates ongoing political damage for the administration’s homeland security leadership.
Sources:
Tillis becomes first GOP senator to call for ‘incompetent’ Noem to step down – CBS News
Democrats Threaten Impeachment as Two GOP Senators Call on Noem to Resign – San.com
