President Donald Trump's apparent decision to sideline Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during the national reckoning over Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota could signal the end of the meteoric rise of the official dubbed 'ICE Barbie.' This development follows the shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, which appears to have marked a pivotal shift in the president's own perspective, with even some Republican voices calling for ICE to be reined in and Noem facing severe backlash for labelling Pretti a 'domestic terrorist.'
Trump's Direct Intervention
On Monday, Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that he was deploying his border czar, Tom Homan—a known rival of Noem—to Minnesota to assume control of the situation. 'I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,' Trump declared. 'He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.' This move effectively removes Noem from the forefront of the ICE crisis, redirecting her focus to other departmental responsibilities.
White House Justifications and Internal Dynamics
A White House insider explained to the Daily Mail that Noem had been primarily occupied with winter storm responses over the weekend, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency falls under her Department of Homeland Security purview. 'Kristi Noem was focused primarily on FEMA and the snow storms over the weekend,' the source stated. 'Even though she answered questions about the mess in Minneapolis, she was doing a lot. With Homan now in charge, Noem can focus on the response to the ice storms and Homan can focus on the storm over ICE.'
However, this reassignment is widely interpreted as the latest in a series of controversies that have seen Noem's standing diminish from a potential 2028 presidential contender to the betting favourite for the next cabinet dismissal. An individual familiar with Trump's strategy revealed: 'Trump sending in Tom Homan shows the president is taking control of the narrative after watching the news closely. Trump wants to signal toughness without any sign of backing down. Most notably, Trump is sending Homan to report directly to him.'
Escalating Tensions and Policy Divisions
The deployment does not signify a 'de-escalation' by ICE, but rather, sources indicate, the president's desire to project 'toughness and professionalism.' Trump is also said to acknowledge that the ongoing turmoil in Minnesota extends beyond mere media portrayal of ICE actions. Homan is dispatched with 'real authority' and a mandate 'to fix a problem for the president,' which simultaneously presents an opportunity for him to outshine Noem should he succeed.
The two enforcers of Trump's immigration agenda have historically held opposing stances: Noem advocates for maximising arrests of illegal immigrants, whereas Homan prefers concentrating on the 'worst of the worst.' In the longer term, this decision may edge Trump closer to potentially invoking the Insurrection Act if deemed necessary. 'The White House is working up the logistics in preparation for Trump to declare the Insurrection Act,' a source disclosed. 'They want to be ready if he needs to declare it.'
Official Denials and Statements
A White House official vehemently denied any erosion of trust in Noem, asserting: 'Secretary Noem will continue to lead the Department of Homeland Security with the full trust and confidence of the President. Tom Homan is uniquely positioned to drop everything and focus solely on Minnesota to solve the problems that have been created by a lack of cooperation from state and local officials.'
In her own statement, Noem remarked: 'I have worked closely with Tom over the last year and he has been a major asset to our team. His experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the streets of Minneapolis.'
Context of Unrest and Controversial Remarks
This intervention follows weeks of riots in Minneapolis, initially sparked by the killing of anti-ICE protester Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. Republican legislators in Washington have suggested Noem's operations spiralled out of control, while Democratic leaders demand the withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota.
The shooting of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at a veterans' hospital, proved a critical juncture for President Trump. In its aftermath, Noem publicly contended that Pretti was a 'domestic terrorist' shot in self-defence by a federal officer. She told the public that Pretti 'committed an act of domestic terrorism,' was armed, 'brandishing' his weapon, and 'reacted violently' when officers attempted to disarm him, forcing an agent to fire defensive shots fearing for his life.
For many independent observers, including firearms and law enforcement procedural experts, this account conflicted with numerous videos of the fatal incident. This shooting occurred merely 17 days after Noem faced widespread condemnation, including from within law enforcement circles, for her handling of Renee Good's shooting by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Shortly after that incident, with scant details available, Noem asserted that Good had committed an act of 'domestic terrorism,' 'weaponized' her car, and 'attempted to run a law enforcement officer over,' claiming the officer followed his training—comments that sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community and the nation.
Trump's Evolving Stance
Initially, after Good's shooting, President Trump stated she 'violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer' and 'behaved horribly.' However, amid mounting criticism, he notably moderated his tone by January 20, calling it a 'tragedy' and expressing: 'You know, when the woman was shot, I felt terribly about it. And I understand both sides of it. You know they’re going to make mistakes. Sometimes, ICE is going to be too rough with somebody or, you know, they deal with rough people. They’re going to make a mistake. Sometimes it can happen terribly.'
On Sunday, riots erupted outside a Hilton hotel in Minneapolis, believed to be housing ICE agents. Protesters smashed windows, spray-painted the facade, and chanted, with a furious mob attempting to breach the front door unsuccessfully.
