Why is Trump's DHS pick called Markwayne?
Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick to replace ousted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, appears to be days away from confirmation to lead the embattled department.
Mullin has represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since 2023, and previously served in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023.
Senators held a hearing to confirm Mullin to the DHS post on Wednesday, and his nomination was advanced by a committee vote on Thursday after Pennsylvania's Democratic Senator John Fetterman, crossed party lines to support the nominee.
The Oklahoman is known for his unusual name, which is a combination of two monikers. The unique amalgamation has a deeply personal connection to his family, as he is damned after his uncle Mark and Wayne - both of whom were childless, he once told Roll Call.
Mullin’s fiery past resurfaces amid political rise
'My father was the youngest boy of eight children, and he had two brothers who did not have any sons. And since I was the youngest of seven in my family, I was named after both of them,' he said at the time.
Prior to entering politics, the Oklahoman had a brief stint as a mixed martial arts or MMA fighter. He left the sport in 2012 with an undefeated 5-0 record and was later inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
The senator is known as a firebrand and even challenged the Teamsters president to a brawl during a Senate hearing in 2023.
'This is the time, this is the place, you want to run your mouth, we can be consenting adults, we can finish it here,' he said.
'Okay, that's fine, that's perfect,' Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, replied.
'You want to do it now?' Mullin replied.
'I'd love to do it now,' O'Brien said, to which Mullins responded, 'Well, stand your butt up then.'
'Stand your [backside] up,' O'Brien mimicked.
Mullins, however, did stand up, fists clenched, while fellow Senator Bernie Sanders admonished him and told him to 'sit down.'
'You're a United States Senator, sit down,' Sanders said.
O'Brien had taken to X prior to the hearing to challenge Mullin to a fight. He also called Mullin a 'clown' and a 'fraud,' which infuriated the former fighter.
Mullin attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship but later dropped out of school at the age of 20 after his father Jim fell ill and he needed to help with the family plumbing business.
Mullin would go back to school in 2018, eventually achieving an associate's degree in applied science in construction technology from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.
He is the only senator without a bachelor's degree.
Mullin built business empire before entering politics
Mullin and his wife of nearly 30 years, Christie, would expand the family business into the largest in the region and also started other successful companies.
He and his wife have six children, including two adoptive twins, Ivy and Lynette.
The Oklahoman, who was a businessowner prior to serving in public office, had a multi-year ethics investigation into him, which resulted in the politician paying back $40,000 that was 'mistakenly paid to him.'
He was accused of still being involved in the businesses. The committee ultimately decided he had made a 'good faith effort' to comply with the ethics rule.
Mullin also worked as a cow-calf rancher prior to becoming a representative.
He grew up on a farm in Westville, where his family still resides today.
Share your thoughts with us in the comments
Meet Former MMA fighter from Oklahoma who is Trump's new pick for for Homeland Security
President Donald Trump's new Homeland Security secretary is a former MMA fighter from Oklahoma.
On Thursday afternoon, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that Senator Markwayne Mullin will replace Kristi Noem as the head of Homeland Security (DHS).
He will enter his new role on March 31. Noem will move to a new role as a Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, 'our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere,' the president said.
Mullin has served in both the House and Senate for Oklahoma, spending 10 years as a representative. He is currently serving in the Senate, where he has held the position for three years after winning the spot in a special election after Jim Inhofe retired.
Trump described the former MMA fighter as a 'MAGA warrior' who 'gets along well with people' and is known for displaying the 'wisdom and courage' it takes to continue with the administration's America First policy.
'Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,' the president wrote.
'Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security.'
Mullin has largely aligned him with Trump and his allies, including the late Charlie Kirk, who died at the age of 31 in September.
In 2024, there were rumors Trump would pick Mullins for a cabinet position, including as secretary of the Department of the Interior or for Veterans Affairs. Both positions went to other people.
The Southerner has previously backed Trump's positions on federal funding, energy, and election-related legislation, News 9 reported.
He also supported Trump's strikes on Iran, telling Fox News on Monday that 'war is ugly.'
'It smells bad. If anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war that’s happening around you and taste it and fill it in your nostrils and hear it, it’s something that you’ll never forget,' he told the conservative outlet.
Mullins faced backlash over his comment as he is not a veteran.
The senator is known for being a firebrand, including challenging the president of the Teamster to a brawl during a Senate hearing in 2023.
'This is the time, this is the place, you want to run your mouth, we can be consenting adults, we can finish it here,' he said.
'Okay, that's fine, that's perfect,' Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, replied.
'You want to do it now?' Mullin replied.
'I'd love to do it now,' O'Brien said.
'Well, stand your [expletive] up then,' Mullins said.
'Stand your [expletive] up,' O'Brien mimicked.
