Donald Trump chose Markwayne Mullin to restore order at the Department of Homeland Security after firing Kristi Noem.

Four months later, the president is reportedly losing patience with him too.

White House insiders told the Wall Street Journal that Trump increasingly views Mullin as “weak and off message”—a dangerous assessment inside an administration where personal loyalty and message discipline can determine whether a Cabinet official survives.

The frustration reportedly intensified after Mullin challenged one of the central claims underpinning Trump’s immigration agenda.

Speaking to the National Governors Association in August, the DHS secretary said the argument that immigrants take jobs from Americans is accurate in some industries but not universally true.

“It’s true in some industries, it’s not true for all industries,” Mullin said.

He also suggested that immigration could help compensate for America’s shrinking labor force.

The comments were more nuanced than Trump’s sweeping rhetoric about immigration—and they immediately triggered fury on the president’s right flank.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer accused Mullin of having “done absolutely nothing to increase the rate of mass deportations.”

That attack matters because Loomer reportedly has Trump’s ear and has repeatedly used social media campaigns to pressure the administration over personnel and policy decisions.

For a DHS secretary responsible for carrying out Trump’s signature immigration crackdown, being branded insufficiently committed to mass deportation is a serious political threat.

According to the Journal, the president’s displeasure extends beyond Mullin’s remarks about workers.

Two fatal shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Maine and Texas placed the department under intense scrutiny. Afterward, DHS reportedly halted most vehicle stops by federal immigration officers.

A senior administration official said Trump was “annoyed” because he had not been informed about the change in advance.

That episode reportedly reinforced the president’s belief that Mullin was drifting from the aggressive enforcement posture he expected.

The supplied reporting does not include full details of the shootings or the policy review behind the decision. A temporary restriction on vehicle stops could have been motivated by safety, legal exposure or the need to reassess enforcement procedures after fatal incidents.

But inside Trump’s White House, the problem may have been as much about control as policy.

The president did not know beforehand.

Mullin had changed how agents operated.

And outside MAGA voices interpreted restraint as weakness.

Even the weather became a source of tension.

Mullin reportedly considered canceling the Fourth of July fireworks celebration on the National Mall because of severe conditions. Trump was angered by the suggestion, according to insiders.

From an operational perspective, postponing a major public event during dangerous weather could be a routine safety judgment. Politically, however, canceling an enormous patriotic spectacle would have collided with Trump’s carefully constructed image of national strength and celebration.

The accumulating disputes have placed Mullin in an awkward position.

He oversees a department responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, disaster response, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure. Those responsibilities require officials to make practical decisions based on staffing, law, intelligence and public safety.

Trump also expects DHS to deliver a political message:

The border is being secured, deportations are accelerating and the administration will not retreat in the face of criticism.

Any statement that complicates that narrative risks appearing disloyal.

Mullin inherited a department already damaged by internal conflict.

Trump selected the former Oklahoma senator after firing Noem in March. The president reportedly told advisers that he had grown tired of infighting at DHS under her leadership.

Replacing Noem was supposed to end the chaos.

Instead, Mullin is now confronting attacks from influential conservatives, anger over enforcement changes and questions about whether he understands Trump’s political expectations.

For the moment, his job appears safe.

A senior administration official told the Journal that Trump is frustrated but does not plan to dismiss him. Mullin has held the position for only four months, and firing another DHS secretary so quickly would create the appearance of deeper instability.

Publicly, both the department and the White House are presenting unity.

A DHS spokesperson said the administration is “one team” with “one fight.”

A White House spokesperson said Trump continues to have confidence in his Cabinet to implement the agenda voters chose.

Those statements do not necessarily contradict reports of private frustration. Presidents can remain dissatisfied with officials they are not yet prepared to remove.

Mullin’s future may depend on whether he can regain the president’s confidence without losing control of a department navigating violent enforcement encounters and intense public scrutiny.

He could respond by accelerating deportations, tightening message discipline and ensuring that Trump approves major operational decisions.

But moving too aggressively could create further legal challenges, public backlash and risks for agents and civilians.

That is the trap.

If Mullin acknowledges economic reality or adjusts enforcement after deadly incidents, MAGA allies may call him weak.

If he follows the hardest line demanded by Trump’s movement, the human and institutional costs may grow.

Noem was fired after Trump became exhausted by chaos inside DHS.

Her replacement was supposed to make the department stronger and more disciplined.

Now Trump reportedly sees him as weak—and in this administration, that word can be the beginning of the end.