Former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has drawn criticism for her public response to an emergency landing involving her successor, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Mullin's Coast Guard plane experienced an emergency landing at Reagan National Airport on Wednesday due to a malfunctioning engine and a spotted fire.
Noem, who served as DHS secretary before being dismissed by then-President Trump, commented on the incident via X, formerly Twitter. "So thankful everyone is safe. 🙏 Guess the Coast Guard did need new planes," she wrote. This statement was widely interpreted as a reference to her own administration's controversial purchase of two Gulfstream private jets for the Coast Guard, totaling $172 million, a move that faced criticism from Democrats and others regarding its cost and Noem's perceived lavish lifestyle as secretary.
The incident involving Mullin occurred on a C-37A aircraft, a military version of a Gulfstream V jet. The pilot declared an emergency, reporting the loss of one engine and requesting an immediate landing. The plane carried 14 individuals and had approximately 2.5 hours of fuel remaining. Mullin, who was returning from a trip to Georgia, later tweeted that the Coast Guard pilots handled the single-engine landing with "straight professionalism" and that it was a "first" for them.
Mullin was seen later that evening at the White House, attending a dinner with President Trump, lawmakers, and administration officials. The C-37A aircraft Mullin was traveling on had reportedly been flagged for review the previous year due to its age.
During her tenure at DHS, Noem defended the purchase of the new aircraft, stating they were necessary to replace 25-year-old planes and were funded by congressional appropriations. The first of the two ordered jets was delivered in January, while the second has not yet arrived. It remains unclear why Mullin was on an older aircraft model.
Noem's time at DHS was also marked by controversy surrounding a leased $70 million jet for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Reports indicated this luxury plane, equipped with amenities like a queen bed, showers, and multiple flat-screen TVs, was used for personal travel by Noem and her associate Corey Lewandowski. Lewandowski reportedly fired and later rehired a Coast Guard pilot over a misplaced blanket belonging to Noem, an incident that also generated controversy.
Critics have resurfaced these past controversies in response to Noem's recent remarks, with some online users mocking her comment and her past spending decisions while leading the department.