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Markwayne Mullin, a temperamental businessman and former MMA fighter, is Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security after firing Secretary Kristi Noem. It’s unlikely that Mullin, who never misses a media appearance, will stay out of the spotlight more than Noem, especially given the fact that he’s no more prepared to lead a massive agency in charge of Trump’s deadly “mass deportation” program. Mullin has proven he does not have the temperament of a leader. In a Senate hearing, he threatened to fight a witness who had posted critical things about him on social media, then defended that by harkening back to days when there were duels among members of Congress. And at a time when Trump and his administration refuse to let go of his delusion that he won the 2020 election, putting a man who believes that lie in charge of a force that could be deployed to polling stations on election day is troubling. After the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, Mullin still voted against certifying election results in Pennsylvania and Arizona and maintained that there was no way, despite having no evidence, that Joe Biden actually won. Mullin, the only U.S. senator without a bachelor’s degree, has also demonstrated a lack of honesty, from violating federal laws requiring members of Congress to disclose their stock trades in a timely manner to insinuating that he went to war despite having never served in the military. Throughout his many media appearances, it’s clear that Mullin has no problem saying or doing whatever to back Donald Trump, even when it’s wrong. |
November 2023: Mullin Challenged Teamsters President Sean O’Brien To A Fight During A Senate Hearing Over Critical Tweets O’Brien Had Written About Him. According to The Associated Press, “A congressional hearing devolved into an angry confrontation between a senator and a witness on Tuesday after Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma challenged Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to 'stand your butt up' and settle longstanding differences right there in the room. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the chairman of the Senate panel that was holding the hearing, yelled at Mullin to sit down after he challenged O’Brien to a fight. Mullin had stood up from his seat at the dais and appeared to start taking his ring off. 'This is the time, this is the place,' Mullin told O’Brien after reading a series of critical tweets O’Brien had sent about him in the past. 'If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here.’” [Associated Press, 11/14/23]
November 2023: Mullin Suggested “We Should Bring [...] Back” Duels And Canings In Congress So That There Would Be More “Respect.” MARKWAYNE MULLIN: Keep in mind, this isn’t anything new. Andrew Jackson challenged two people—or nine people—to a duel when he was president, and he also knocked one guy out at a White House dinner. There’s been canings before in the Senate too. Maybe we should bring some of that back, and it will keep people from thinking they’re so tough and they can sit at a table and we can actually work out our differences without poking at each other and wanting to run to cameras and want to call each other names. Maybe if we had some type of respect because we know there’s going to be consequences for your actions then maybe we can move on with all this, I don’t know, jargon that happens around this place. [FOX Business, 11/14/23]
November 2023: Mullin Said He Was “Not Afraid Of Biting” Opponents In A Fight, Adding: “I’ll Do Anything. I’m Not Above It, And I Don’t Care Where I Bite.” According to Newsweek, "Senator Markwayne Mullin is doubling down on his challenge against International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, saying he'd be ready to bite the union head if the two were to settle their differences in a physical fight. 'By the way, I'm not afraid of biting. I will bite,' Mullin, a former mixed martial arts fighter, told podcast host Kyle Thompson on Wednesday's episode of Undaunted.Life. 'I'll bite 100 percent. In a fight, I'm gonna bite. I'll do anything. I'm not above it, and I don't care where I bite, by the way, it's just...gonna be a biting.’” [Newsweek, 11/15/23]
November 2025: Mullin Joked That Reporters Would Write Fewer “Fake News” Stories If Violence Was Used To Settle Disputes. In a video posted to his X, Markwayne Mullin joked that there would be fewer “fake news” stories if reporters were still subject to violence, ‘“There’s a lot we could say about reporters and the stories they write, but I bet they would write a lot less false stories – as President Trump says, fake news – if we could still handle our differences that way.’” [X, Markwayne Mullin, 4/5/25]
July 2025: Mullin Violated The Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act By Failing To Disclose Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars In Stock And Bond Trades Up To 2 Years Late. According to NOTUS, "Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin violated a federal financial conflicts of interest and disclosure law by failing to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock and bond trades, a NOTUS review of new congressional documents found. The Oklahoma senator was two-and-a-half years late reporting seven stock purchases by his wife and about one-and-a-half years late disclosing three Oklahoma-connected municipal security purchases for himself, according to a disclosure Mullin filed Wednesday with the U.S. Senate. The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act, requires a member of Congress to disclose any stock, bond or cryptocurrency trade done by themselves, spouse or dependent child within 45 days. " [NOTUS, 7/31/25]
March 3, 2026: Mullin Said Of The Iran War, “This Is War,” Then Said It Was A “Misspoke” And That The U.S. Had Not Declared War. VIDEO [00:00:04] MARKWAYNE MULLIN: This is war, and we’re taking out the threat, and if you’re part of the threat then you’re a target. [...] REPORTER: You concede this is war? MULLIN: We haven’t declared war. They declared war on us. [...] REPORTER: When you walked up just now you said, “This is war.” MULLIN: They’ve called it war. REPORTER: You just– MULLIN: OK, well, that was a misspoke. What I was saying, they’ve declared war on us, but war is ugly. It always has been ugly. But we’re taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time. [PBS NewsHour, 3/4/26]
August 2011: Mullin Said He Would Not Serve More Than Six Years In The House If Elected, Saying, “If We Can't Accomplish Anything In Six Years, It's A Waste Of Time Anyway.” According to The Associated Press, "Faught and Mullin both are seeking the seat in eastern Oklahoma being vacated by current U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, the lone Democrat in the state's congressional delegation. 'I don't want to be up there (in Washington) and become part of the problem,' said Mullin, 34, owner and CEO of Mullin plumbing. 'If we can't accomplish anything in six years, it's a waste of time anyway.'” [Associated Press, 8/1/11]
2013-2023: Mullin Served In The U.S. House For Five Terms. [Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, viewed 3/11/26]
March 2, 2026: Mullin Said: “War Is Ugly. It Smells Bad, And If Anybody’s Ever Been There And Been Able To Smell The War That’s Happened Around You, [...] It’s Something That You’ll Never Forget.” MARKWAYNE MULLIN: When the president first came out and he talked to the American people, he was very resolved and direct on what we could expect. War is ugly. It smells bad, and if anybody’s ever been there and been able to smell the war that’s happened around you and taste it and feel it in your nostrils and hear it, it’s something that you’ll never forget, and it’s ugly. [FOX News, 3/2/26]
April 1, 2025: Mullin Said Afghanistan Was “Deeply Personal To Me [...] And Anyone Else That’s Had The Privilege Of Serving The Nation In Afghanistan.” VIDEO [00:03:41] MARKWAYNE MULLIN: I want to switch gears real quick to Afghanistan. It’s deeply personal to me, and I know it is to you [U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine, retired], and anyone else that’s had the privilege of serving the nation in Afghanistan. But because of our disastrous withdrawal, I feel like there’s a hesitation in our military and our military families to actually step forward and make that sacrifice again. I think there’s a lot of doubt that the United States is able to stand behind what our first mission is, and then to be able to bring pride to those that sacrificed. [U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, 4/1/25]
December 29, 2025: Mullin Bought Between $15,000 And $50,000 In Stock Of Chevron And ConocoPhillips And Defense Contractor RTX. According to The Daily Beast, “Donald Trump’s new pick to run the Department of Homeland Security has made big money thanks to his boss’s attacks on Venezuela and Iran—and stands to make even more. [...] Five days before military action in Venezuela, Mullin purchased substantial positions in defense contractor RTX Corp. and oil giants Chevron and ConocoPhillips, according to Capitol Trades. Based on those federal disclosure filings and publicly available share price data, Mullin made up to $35,050 from the trio of positions by Monday. [...] On Dec. 29, 2025, according to financial disclosures first flagged by financial website Quiver Quantitative, Mullin bought between $15,000 and $50,000 each in Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and RTX. Five days later, U.S. forces launched Operation Absolute Resolve against Venezuela.” [Daily Beast, 3/9/26]
January 2026: Mullin Discussed The Impact Of Trump’s Strike On Venezuela On Chevron’s Shareholders. According to The Daily Beast, "After the Venezuela strike, Mullin was interviewed on CNBC’s Squawk Box, where he discussed the attack’s potential impact on shareholders.'When you start looking at Venezuela, if they stabilize, most of these majors, including Exxon, [are] going to run there,' he said. 'We’ve had relationships, I mean, look at Chevron.' 'Once [Chevron] stabilizes, every major company is going to be buying to get involved in that area, because there’s a tremendous amount of opportunity for the company and for their shareholders.’” [Daily Beast, 3/9/26]
July 2020: The Federal Government Released A List Of Businesses That Received Paycheck Protection Program Loans, Including Four Businesses Owned By Mullin. According to KOKH-TV, “On Monday, the federal government released the laundry-list of businesses who received funding under the CARES Act's Paycheck Protection Program. The numbers are eye-popping, with the Small Business Administration saying it approved more than 4.8 million loans worth more than $521 billion. [...] Funds were also allotted to several businesses tied to Congressman Markwayne Mullin. Four businesses owned by Mullin (Mullin Plumbing, Inc., Mullin Plumbing West Division Inc., Mullin Environmental, Mullin Services Inc) received somewhere between $800,000 and $2 million from the program.” [KOKH-TV, 7/6/20]
Mullin Had More Than $1.45 Million In PPP Loans Forgiven
| Business | Date Approved | Loan Status | Loan Amount | Amount Forgiven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullin Plumbing Inc. | 4/9/20 | Forgiven | $706,800 | $711,453 |
| Mullin Plumbing West Division Inc. | 4/9/20 | Forgiven | $281,900 | $283,928 |
| Mullin Environmental Inc. | 4/9/20 | Forgiven | $169,200 | $170,314 |
| Mullin Services Inc. | 4/9/20 | Forgiven | $290,500 | $292,412 |
| TOTAL | $1,448,400 | $1,458,107 |
[ProPublica, updated 10/27/24]
December 21, 2020: Mullin Voted Against Loans For Small Businesses Impacted By The Coronavirus Pandemic. On December 21, 2020, U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin voted against a bill to provide new money for small-business loans and provide for other coronavirus relief measures. According to Roll Call, “Earlier in the evening, the House passed the measure using an unusual bifurcated process known as “dividing the question.” Lawmakers in that chamber first voted to pass the Commerce-Justice-Science, Defense, Financial Services and Homeland Security pieces of the omnibus on a 327-85 vote. Then they voted to pass the remaining eight fiscal 2021 spending bills, coronavirus relief and assorted other legislation on a 359-53 vote. [...] The pandemic relief measure would deliver the first major infusion of new aid in nine months, since Congress passed a roughly $2 trillion package in March. It would provide new money for small-business loans, $300 expanded unemployment benefits for 10 weeks, a new round of $600 tax rebate checks, billions for vaccine distribution and many other provisions.” [Roll Call, 12/21/20; H.R.133, Roll Call 250; H.R.133, Roll Call 251; Congress.gov, H.R.133]
August 24, 2022: Mullin Criticized The White House’s Plan To Forgive Student Debt, Saying, Farmers And Small Business Owners In Oklahoma Should Not Be “Paying The Debts Of Ivy League Lawyers And Doctors.” In a tweet, Markwayne Mullin wrote: “We do not need farmers and ranchers, small business owners, and teachers in Oklahoma paying the debts of Ivy League lawyers and doctors across the U.S. This places undue burden on those already suffering due to the weight of Biden’s failed economic policy.” [X, Markwayne Mullin, 8/24/22]
January 24, 2026: Federal Agents Shot And Killed Alex Pretti In Minneapolis During An Immigration Crackdown. According to CNN, "A federal immigration agent shot and killed a man in Minneapolis Saturday, drawing crowds of angry protesters to the shooting scene in a city already reeling from two other shootings by federal law enforcement this month. The shooting occurred on a frigid morning as federal agents, seen in video footage, wrestled a man to the ground before a burst of gunfire. [...] The man killed Saturday, Alex Pretti, was described by city officials as a 37-year-old lawful gun owner and US citizen. Conflicting accounts from local, state and federal officials about what led to his death have strengthened calls for the Trump administration to halt its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis." [CNN, 1/25/26]
January 24, 2026: Mullin Tweeted: “Obstructing Federal Law Enforcement Is A Felony. Most Americans Follow Ice Instructions Without Thinking Twice.” On January 24, 2026, Markwayne Mullin tweeted: “Obstructing federal law enforcement is a felony. Most Americans follow ICE instructions without thinking twice. These patriots are doing a difficult job under an 8,000% rise in death threats.” [X, Markwayne Mullin, 1/24/26]
January 25, 2026: Mullin Called Pretti A “Deranged Individual Who Came In To Cause Massive Damage With A Loaded Pistol” And Blamed “Democratic Leaders” For The Violence. According to Native News Online, "In an appearance on FOX News on Sunday, Mullin defended the White House’s version of events and called Pretti a 'deranged individual.' 'A deranged individual who came in to cause massive damage with a loaded pistol was shot and killed,' Mullin said. 'How much more does it have to go on before Democratic leaders take responsibility for their words?' " [Native News Online, 1/25/26]
January 11, 2026: Mullin Said Renee Good “Was Interfering With Police Activity” And Her Vehicle Was A “Lethal Weapon,” So The Ice Agent Who Shot Her Had A “Right To Defend Themselves.” According to CNN, “SEN. MARKWAYNE MULLIN (R-OK): Well, Jake, I think you could go two ways, too. I mean, you played with all the Republicans said, but you didn't play with any of the Democrat lawmakers said about the ICE agents. I mean, it's true that both sides went out there quickly defending their side. The fact is that Renee Good was interfering with police activity. There's no question about that right now. There was no question at this point that she accelerated after she was given verbal commands to get out of her vehicle, and the body cam footage clearly shows -- different angles from different people's phones, clearly show that she accelerated straight towards the ICE agent. They had the right to defend themselves. Once she blocked the ICE agents from doing their job, they exited the vehicle, gave a verbal command. She wasn't listening, and then she purposely tries to accelerate and run over -- I don't know if she purposely tried to run over the ICE agent, but there was an ICE agent position in front of her vehicle. She accelerated to them. At that point, that vehicle becomes a lethal weapon, and the agents had the right to defend themselves, and they did so.” [CNN, 1/11/26]
January 11, 2026: Mullin Said It Was “Mind-Blowing To Me Why We Are Defending” Renee Good Who “Hit An Ice Agent, And That's Law Enforcement That's Enforcing Our Nation's Laws.” According to CNN, "And that police officer has the right to defend themselves. It is -- it's -- it is mind-blowing to me why we are defending someone that was acting this, in this manner when she -- it was clearly, that she hit an ICE agent, and that's law enforcement that's enforcing our nation's laws. We don't get a choice on which laws we enforce and which laws we don't enforce. The police officers are doing their job. And she was interfering in their job. If you don't want to be in harm's way, don't get in the way of police officers from doing their job.” [CNN, 1/11/26]
January 11, 2026: Mullin Said Good “Clearly” Struck The Ice Agent With Her Vehicle, Justifying Her Shooting Death, Then Said, “It Doesn't Make Any Difference If He Was Struck Or Not When He Was Standing In Front Of The Vehicle.” According to CNN, “MULLIN: Same thing that these people are saying -- I know, but I'm just saying these reports out there. There is obviously -- I mean, there's video, Jake, you can see the video. It's widely spread across the Internet, from different angles that you can clearly see him being struck by the vehicle, in front of the vehicle. It doesn't make any difference if he was struck or not when he was standing in front of the vehicle and she was giving verbal commands to leave the vehicle, and she accelerated at that point, he doesn't have five seconds, 10 seconds, he has a split decision on what he can do to protect his life and those around his life.” [CNN, 1/11/26]
January 2, 2021: Mullin Said He Could Not Vote To Certify The 2020 Election Results “Due To All Of The Fraud And Uncertainty Surrounding The 2020 Election.” On January 2, 2021, Markwayne Mullin wrote on X: “As I said in my interview on Fox and Friends on Wednesday, due to all of the fraud and uncertainty surrounding the 2020 election there is no way I can vote to certify the Electoral College. I will be contesting the Electoral College votes on January 6th.” [X, Markwayne Mullin, 1/2/21]
January 6, 2021: Mullin Objected To Certifying The Presidential Election Results In Arizona And Pennsylvania, Both Won By Joe Biden. According to The Guardian, "The Senate and the House of Representatives convened on Wednesday to perform what is traditionally seen as a purely ceremonial vote: to certify each state’s presidential election results. At a rally before the vote, Donald Trump continued to baselessly insist that the election results – which he lost to Democrat challenger Joe Biden – were rigged and the US president helped instigate a mob to storm the US Capitol building and halt the process. The attack shocked many Americans but even after the pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol, a handful of Republican senators and more than a hundred Republican representatives continued to back Trump’s false claims and objected to certifying the results in Arizona and Pennsylvania. [...] Here’s the full list. [...] Which US representatives objected to certify Biden as president? Representatives challenging the certified results in Arizona and Pennsylvania Objected to both (120) [...] Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)[.]” [The Guardian, 1/7/21]
August 2022: Mullin Said He Could Not Accept That Biden Won The 2020 Election Because There Were “Irregularities” And Because “Donald Trump Is Loved.” According to NonDoc, "Mullin, who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, said there is no way he will ever believe President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, despite numerous court rulings against Trump and the debunking of election-tampering theories championed by Trump and his supporters. 'It’s going to be very hard to convince me that Joe Biden received more votes than any other president in history,' Mullin said. 'It is absolutely absurd to think that is even possible. Donald Trump is loved. If you travel across the country, people love him. They’re excited about him. When he turns out, people turn out. More and more, we’re finding more details out from different states who are doing a deep dive and are saying this election had a lot more irregularities than we thought.'" [NonDoc, 8/3/22]
January 5, 2021: Mullin Told His Constituents The 2020 Election Was Not "Honest” And That Republicans Had An Opportunity To Overturn The Results On January 6. According to Public Radio Tulsa, "As recently as the evening of Jan. 5, Mullin was suggesting to constituents on a telephone town hall that he did not believe the election Trump lost was 'honest,' and that there was a chance that House and Senate backers of Trump's false claims of election fraud could succeed at the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress in denying the certification of now-President Joe Biden's win." [Public Radio Tulsa, 7/27/21]
January 6, 2021: Mullin Helped Barricade Doors At The Capitol During January 6 Insurrection. According to NPR, "In the aftermath of the 2020 election, he voted against certifying election results and amplified Trump's debunked claims about fraud. He also was praised for helping Capitol Police barricade doors during the Jan. 6 insurrection." [NPR, 3/4/26]
2021: Mullin Blamed Democrats And Media For January 6th Insurrection. According to Public Radio Tulsa, "In a newly released interview about his experience inside the House chamber during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, Rep. Markwayne Mullin said Democrats and the media share in the blame for the insurrectionists' violent attempt to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election. 'This was a very dark day in American history that should have never, ever, ever happened, and all of us, all of us are to blame on this one,' Mullin told C-SPAN's Greta Brawner in an interview that aired Sunday as part of a series of conversations with lawmakers at the Capitol that day. ‘I mean Republicans, Democrats, the media, the administration, all of us, because we have to learn a different way to debate,’ Mullin said. ‘What we use as politicians and as media is little key phrases, little key things to get people aroused, to get people excited, to get peoples' attention. The problem is we do that so much that it turns into anger. And this went too far. This was something that'd been bubbling too long.’” [Public Radio Tulsa, 7/27/21]
2021: Mullin Voted Twice Against House Investigations Into January 6th Insurrection. According to Public Radio Tulsa, "Mullin voted twice against formal House investigations into the insurrection: in May, he voted against creating an independent, nonpartisan commission modeled after the 9/11 Commission; in June, he voted against the creation of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the Capitol of the United States, which convened for its first hearing Tuesday morning." [Public Radio Tulsa, 7/27/21]
January 2025: Mullin Said It Was Trump’s Prerogative To Pardon January 6 Insurrections. According to KTUL, "Fast forward to today, President Donald Trump is back in office and pardoned all January 6th rioters. Congressman Markwayne Mullin saying it's Trump's prerogative to do so. 'People on November 5th chose to move past January 6th. It was a regretful day. it should have never happened. I saw it with my own eyes, but Trump is the President and things change,' Mullin said." [KTUL, 1/22/25]