Trump confirms frustration over Noem’s $220 million ad campaign: ‘Didn’t know about it’

Published March 6, 2026 10:19am ET



President Donald Trump questioned former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s approval of a costly ad campaign prominently featuring herself. 

Noem has repeatedly claimed, including during congressional testimony on Tuesday, that Trump personally asked her to craft the DHS ad campaign, which cost over $220 million. But the president publicly disputed the secretary’s story on Thursday, saying, “I didn’t know about it.” The same day, Trump fired Noem and replaced her with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). 

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