WASHINGTON —The White House is standing by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin despite concerns from top MAGA influencers over whether he’s tough enough on illegal immigration.
Mullin has been a “problem from the beginning,” Steve Bannon told The Post, adding that the country “needed action” on immigration crackdowns, particularly ahead of the November election that will decide control of Congress.
“Ninety days to go to elections when immigration enforcement, the border, are still the issue that wins for us, the signature issue of President Trump,” he said. “This is a base election, and the base needs to turn out.”
Democrats only need a net gain of four seats to win control of the House and four to take the Senate. Their odds are best in the House, where several Republican lawmakers are in swing districts and vulnerable.
The White House, however, is standing by their head of Homeland Security.
“The President has confidence in Secretary Mullin and his entire Administration to carry out the agenda the American people voted for,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Post.
And Trump allies argued to The Post that the person the MAGA base listens to is Trump, not influencers.
Still, the voices on the right are growing louder in their complaints about Mullin. Laura Loomer called for him to be fired, writing on X that “he has done absolutely nothing to increase the rate of mass deportations.”
As the chatter grows louder, MAGA podcaster Jack Posobiec predicted: “There is a growing wave among MAGA to find a DHS secretary who puts deportations first.”
The person for the job is federal housing chief Bill Pulte, Bannon argues, calling Pulte a man of action.
He cited the “magnificent job” that Pulte did as acting director of National Intelligence. In his controversial tenure, Pulte oversaw a 30% reduction in DNI staff and declassified intelligence tied to the 2020 election, including information that was used by Trump in his speech to the nation in July, where he accused China of interfering.
“This is why the president had that terrific address to the nation, which has got so much of the MAGA base really pumped up,” Bannon said.
“If you put him in DHS on an interim basis, even as the head of deportations, you would have the overwhelming support of the MAGA base who really have made Bill Pulte the equivalent of a MAGA folk hero.”
Immigration remains a strong issue for Trump with 39% of voters approving of his handling of the matter, compared to the 32% who favor his approach to the economy, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found this week.
Trump allies close to the White House told The Post they didn’t believe a cabinet shuffle would happen again before the midterm election and dismissed the chatter about Pulte as “not serious.”
One person close to Trump pointed out the only people promoting Pulte’s name were Bannon and Pulte.
Pulte did not offer a statement on the matter when reached by The Post. Now that his time at DNI is over, he’s returning to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where he oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The controversy over Mullin took fresh steam after the former senator told the National Governors Association Summer meeting on Saturday that the country needs comprehensive immigration reform, which has been code for bills that allow a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
“We haven’t had actual immigration reform since 1959. There’s a reason. It’s political,” Mullin said. “Do you really need immigration reform? Yes, you do.”
Mullin’s tenure has had its tense moments with the president. One came after he ordered a temporary pause on most ICE traffic stops in mid-July 2026 after a fatal shooting in Maine involving a federal agent. Trump was said to have been taken by surprise at the move and personally reversed the decision.
He also tried to cancel the fireworks display in Washington, D.C., on July 4th because of weather concerns, but Trump angrily overrode him, demanding the show go on.
Mullin was appointed to the position in March 2026 after Kristi Noem fizzled out in a wave of scandal, involving questions about her relationship with Corey Lewandowski, who was a special government employee at DHS, and a multi-million TV ad campaign – starring herself – about the department’s work. Noem claimed Trump authorized the expenditure, which was said to anger the president.
In contrast, Mullin, a longtime Republican senator, garnered bipartisan praise after Trump named him for the job. Some Democrats even voted for his confirmation. But that asset became a flaw after a report that he was quietly working with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, on immigration issues and said he had a “real good relationship” with the governor, who is a prominent Trump critic and potential Democratic presidential candidate.
Mullin has tried to repair the damage.
He attempted to walk back his statement at the governor’s meeting, posting on X: “NO amnesty for illegal aliens. Ever. We are a nation of laws. If you are illegally present in the United States of America—you will be detained and deported. Period.”
DHS was quick to weigh in, highlighting its success on deportations.
“The results speak for themselves. In President Trump’s first year back in office, more than 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. because of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 985,000 deportations,” a spokesperson said.
“Everyone’s on the same page: the Trump administration is enforcing the law, deporting criminal illegal aliens, and defending the homeland.”
Immigration officials removed more than 350,000 people for the fiscal year as of July 2026, according to ICE statistics. That puts the department on track to beat a record set by the Obama administration – and outpace deportations during Noem’s tenure.
As for Bannon, he pushed back against accusations he’s stirring up trouble, saying he was bringing up the concerns about Mullin for the benefit of the administration, so Republicans can keep control of Congress in the November election.
“We need some trouble stirred up,” he said. “We have 90 days to go and most people make up their minds around Labor Day, and we gotta get these folks out. So yes, I am stirring up trouble and I’m damned proud of it.
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