Kristi NoemPresident-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security was questioned Friday about how she would work with “border czar” Tom Homan and who is in charge of securing America’s border.
Sen. Andy Kim, DN.J., asked Noem at a Senate confirmation hearing who “will be in charge of the border,” saying he was unsure about her role with Homan.
“Well, the president is going to be in charge of the border. It’s a matter of national security. And the president is in charge of this country and he made a promise to the American people, and we’re going to deliver on his plan,” Noem replied.
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Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota and nominee for secretary of homeland security, during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in Washington, DC, Friday, January 17, 2025. (Getty)
Kim said that was a “good answer,” but asked for clarification, asking what the difference was between her and Homan.
“I’m trying to get a better sense of who’s in charge,” he said.
Noem called Homan “an amazing human being.”
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Future Trump “czar” Tom Homan speaks to Fox News. (Fox News)
“He is an adviser to the president, border emperor. “Obviously, if I’m nominated and confirmed, I’ll be placed as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and responsible for the authority that we have in the actions that we take,” she said.
Kim fired back, quoting Homan’s remarks, saying he would make the decisions on the matter border security and deportation.
“So I’m just concerned about that, because it’s not only about the function of our executive branch, but the ability of this board to be able to properly perform its constitutional oversight duties, the ability to be able to have that conversation, we can talk to you , to cooperate with you,” he said.
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“If he is going to decide, then he should also appear before this committee.”
Noem responded by saying that she and Homan “work very well together and talk and communicate all the time. And we will work together on a daily basis when we are in our positions under the new administration. And I would say that there are no powers that are planned to be taken away from the department or me if I’m in that role.”
