Walz suggests Minnesota officials will investigate Noem

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) vowed further consequences against outgoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, after President Trump announced her exit from the agency on Thursday. 

The governor has rebuked Noem and the Trump administration over the DHS’s immigration enforcement operations in the state earlier this year. Federal agents shot and killed two Americans during January operations in Minneapolis. 

Walz told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki on Thursday, “We’re not looking for retribution; we’re looking for justice and we’re looking to make sure that no one’s above the law.”

“I would just say at this time that former Secretary Noem should probably get used to spending more time in Minnesota because I have a pretty good feeling in the future she may be doing that because we have got to get accountability,” Walz said. 

Trump announced Thursday that he was nominating Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to replace Noem. 

Walz vowed to try to stall Mullin’s nomination until the administration allows state agencies to join a federal investigation into the deaths of the two Minnesotans killed during the DHS’s operation, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. 

The superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said state investigators were shut out of both joint investigations with the FBI. 

“My demand for all the senators who are voting: don’t vote for anything until they let us be part of the investigation into these murders and these crimes,” the governor said. 

Trump said he would like to see Mullin assume this leadership role by the end of the month in his Truth Social post on Thursday. 

“Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,” the president wrote, adding that Mullin “will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security.”

Democratic leaders of other states where the Trump administration carried out immigration enforcement operations also warned of further consequences for Noem following her ouster on Thursday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrote that “saying goodbye” to Noem “is not enough” in a post on the social platform X on Thursday. 

“Noem, Greg Bovino and Stephen Miller must be held accountable for terrorizing and endangering the American people,” the governor said. 

Gov. JB Priztker (D-Ill.), who pushed back against the deployment of federal officers to Chicago last year, posted, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Kristi Noem.”

In video remarks posted on X, Pritzker sharply criticized Noem’s tenure leading the department. 

“Here’s your legacy: corruption and chaos, parents and children tear-gassed, moms and nurses, U.S. citizens getting shot in the face,” Pritzker continued. “Now that you’re gone, don’t think that you just get to walk away. I guarantee you, you will still be held accountable.”