Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s path to taking over the Department of Homeland Security got a lot harder Wednesday — and his biggest obstacle turned out to be a fellow Republican.
Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, opened the confirmation hearing with a direct attack on Mullin, Trump’s pick to replace fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Paul demanded that the Oklahoma senator answer for past comments in which Mullin called Paul a “freaking snake” and said he completely understood why a neighbor attacked Paul in 2017.
That attack left Paul with six broken ribs and a damaged lung.
“You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified,” Paul told Mullin. “So today you’ll have your chance. Today I’ll give you that chance to clear the record. Tell it to my face if that’s what you believe. Tell it to me today. Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung. Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it.”
Paul didn’t stop there, questioning whether someone with Mullin’s record should head an agency already under fire for aggressive enforcement tactics.
“And while you’re at it, explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues,” Paul said.
Mullin fired back before even beginning his prepared remarks.
“I have to address the remarks the chairman made, calling me a liar,” Mullin said. “Everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face.”
“I said I could understand because of the behavior you were having, that I could understand why your neighbor…did what he did,” Mullin said. “As far as my terms, the snake in the grass, sir, I work around this room to try to fix problems. I’ve worked with many people in this room. It seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us. I did address those remarks.”
He then offered Paul an olive branch, but Paul didn’t take the peace offering.
“The truth is, I have a job to do, and I don’t like to fail at anything at all. So I can set it aside, if you’re willing to set it aside. Let me earn your respect. I’m going to earn the job. I won’t fail you. I won’t back down from a challenge. And I’ll also admit when I’m wrong. I’m not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead. And I’ll make that commitment to you.”
Take a look —
A sitting U.S. Senator and DHS Secretary nominee told me he "understood" the violent attack on me from behind.
Not condemned it.
Not apologized for it.
Understood it.
He also offered zero apology for his past statements.
This is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/NB0CZ3l0tt
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 18, 2026
After the hearing, Paul said that he will vote “no” on Mullin’s nomination when the committee takes up the vote Thursday.
“The fact that he can’t bring himself to say that, you know, really, we shouldn’t settle political questions with violence, I think that would be a terrible example for ICE and for our border patrol agents,” Paul told reporters.
Republicans hold a narrow 8-7 majority on the committee, and Paul’s “no” vote could sink the nomination. GOP insiders are hoping Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania will break ranks and join them. Fetterman said he would keep “an open mind.”