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1 Kristi Noem Out As Homeland Security Secretary, Sen. Markwayne Mullin To Be Nominated To Replace Her
President Trump announced yesterday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is out, and that Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin will take over the role effective at the end of the month. Trump posted the news on Truth Social, praising Noem for her work on the border while announcing she would move to a newly-created role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. The final breaking point appeared to be her Senate testimony earlier this week, where she faced unusually sharp criticism from Republicans as well as Democrats. GOP Sen. John Kennedy grilled her over spending $220 million on a TV ad campaign that featured her prominently, questioning whether the president had actually signed off on it. Kennedy told reporters that after the hearing, Trump called him that night and was, in Kennedy's words, "not a happy cowboy."
2 House Fails To Adopt Iran War Powers Resolution, Trump Says He Must Have A Role In Picking New Leader For Iran
The House voted yesterday on a resolution that would have required President Trump to stop military operations against Iran without a formal declaration of war or congressional authorization. The resolution failed by a narrow margin of 212 to 219. Two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson, broke from their party to vote in favor of the measure, while four Democrats voted against it. The House resolution was non-binding, meaning it expressed the sentiment of Congress but would not have required the president's signature and could not be vetoed. House Speaker Mike Johnson had argued against it, saying the U.S. is not at war but engaged in a "very specific, clear mission and operation." Democrats expressed frustration after a classified briefing they said described an open-ended operation with expected American casualties, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warning of "mission creep."
3 President Trump Hints That The US Will Focus On Cuba After Iran
Speaking at the White House yesterday during a visit by soccer champions Inter Miami, President Trump strongly hinted that Cuba could be next on his administration's list after Iran. He told the crowd, which included many Cuban Americans, that it's "just a question of time" before Cuba's communist government falls. Trump credited Secretary of State Marco Rubio for applying pressure on the island through tightened sanctions and said the administration is actively talking with Cuba about a deal. Sen. Lindsey Graham had already declared "Cuba's next" when U.S. strikes on Iran began last weekend. Trump also said he had previously choked off Cuba's oil supply by cutting Venezuela's shipments in January, calling it a major source of economic pain for the Cuban regime.