Minnesota leaders respond to Trump firing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem - St. Cloud Times

The March 5 decision comes after the North Star State was subject to a surge of federal immigration enforcement earlier this year. USA TODAY reports the decision also comes after Noem faced pressure this week about a $220 million ad campaign that she was featured in.

Trump suggested U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, replace Noem, according to USA TODAY. Noem is expected to become special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, Trump's initiative for security against narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

"Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure," Trump wrote to Truth Social.

How Minnesota leaders are responding

Leaders in Minnesota are already responding to Noem's departure, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

In a statement posted to X, Walz said Noem "has done a stunning amount of damage and it's good she's gone." He also said her departure doesn't eliminate the need for an "overhaul" of the department.

Walz's post also asks for an impartial investigation into the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Both were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year.

"But this doesn't change the fact that we need a complete overhaul of DHS, impartial investigations into the killings of two American citizens, and information on children that were taken from Minnesota," Walz posted to X on March 5.

Good and Pretti were also mentioned in an X post by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.,

"Kristi Noem is out," Klobuchar posted to X. "Minnesotans stood up for Alex and Renee and so many others."

Both leading Democratic candidates for Minnesota's senate race released statements. One candidate, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., said Senate Democrats shouldn't support Mullins nomination until the DHS agrees to terms regarding ICE.

"Not a single Senate Democrat should support Markwayne Mullin's nomination or give a cent to Trump's DHS until his administration agrees to Minnesotans' demands to rein in ICE and ensure not a single life is lost again."

Meanwhile, Craig's Senate primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, said fairwell to Noem.

“Don't let the door hit you on the way out," Flanagan wrote in a statement. "Just because you got fired, Minnesotans won’t forget what you did to our neighbors. We will continue to fight for you to be held accountable."

As of 2 p.m. March 5, U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., has not released a statement.