California Gov. Gavin Newsom wasted no time piling onto ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after President Donald Trump fired her — blasting the embattled cabinet member and declaring the shake-up as a sign the administration is “in retreat.”
“Goodbye Kristi Noem! You will go down in history as the most brazenly incompetent and cruel Secretary of Homeland Security in United States history,” the Democrat wrote on X shortly after Trump announced Noem would leave the post at the end of the month.
Newsom didn’t stop there.
The California governor claimed the firing showed cracks in Trump’s administration during a book event in New Hampshire Thursday.
“Donald Trump is in retreat,” Newsom said. “Today is a perfect example — the first firing of a high-profile cabinet member.”
Meanwhile, his press team circulated an AI-generated image showing Noem in a cowboy hat waiting in a “MAGA Unemployment Line,” followed by another image of a smiling puppy holding a newspaper with the headline “Trump Fires Kristi Noem.” The post read: “Justice for Cricket!” — a dig at the former South Dakota governor’s dog that Noem previously admitted she shot.
The account also shared a short message in reaction to the news, writing simply, “BYE GIRL!”
The political jabs come as Newsom continues a national tour that has fueled speculation about a future White House run.
The California Democrat has positioned himself as one of Trump’s most vocal critics — while repeatedly clashing with Noem over immigration enforcement and federal oversight in the state.
Trump announced Thursday he would replace Noem with Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who will take over as Homeland Security secretary on March 31.
Noem will instead move into a newly created role as special envoy for the administration’s “Shield of the Americas” security initiative, which Trump said will be unveiled Saturday in Doral, Florida.
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The shake-up follows mounting scrutiny of Noem, who faced tough questions from lawmakers this week over her handling of FEMA funding, luxury jet travel and high-profile ad campaigns.
She has also been dogged by rumors of an alleged affair with longtime Trump ally Corey Lewandowski — something critics in Washington have called the capital’s “worst-kept secret.”
Noem also sparked backlash after refusing to apologize for labeling two slain Minnesota protesters — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — as domestic terrorists during congressional testimony.
The clash between Newsom and Noem is nothing new.
The two have repeatedly traded barbs in recent years, with Newsom calling for her resignation and Noem accusing California officials of fraud and warning at one point: “We’re going to come to you, Governor Gavin Newsom.”
Newsom’s appearance in New Hampshire also comes just days after he stirred controversy at a Los Angeles book event by comparing Israel to an “apartheid state.” The governor later said he was referencing a column by New York Times writer Thomas L. Friedman.