Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem met with President Donald Trump within the Oval Workplace on Monday, two sources advised ABC Information, because the administration faces fallout over federal agent operations in Minnesota and the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.
Noem’s high adviser, Corey Lewandowski, White Home chief of workers Susie Wiles, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt and White Home communications director Steven Cheung had been additionally current, in accordance with sources.
White Home deputy chief of workers Stephen Miller, who had known as Pretti a “home terrorist” with out proof, was not on the assembly, sources stated.
Sources stated the assembly lasted about two hours and got here on the request of Noem. The White Home declined to remark.
The New York Instances was the primary to report on the assembly.
Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem speaks throughout a information convention within the Nationwide Response Coordination Heart on the Federal Emergency Administration Company headquarters, January 24, 2026 in Washington.
Al Drago/Getty Pictures
A lot of the scrutiny contained in the administration has been directed towards Noem over her preliminary response to the killing of Pretti, sources stated. After Pretti was killed Saturday, Noem — like Miller — was fast to name him a “home terrorist” with out proof.
Requested by ABC Information Chief White Home Correspondent Mary Bruce if the president agreed with that characterization, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt distanced the president from those comments.
“Look, as I’ve stated, I’ve not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that manner,” Leavitt stated through the White Home press briefing on Monday. “Nonetheless, I’ve heard the president say he needs to let the information within the investigation lead itself.”
Whereas sources stated Noem is anticipated to maintain her job as of now, her focus is anticipated to shift to different priorities.
Trump, as he left the White Home on Tuesday afternoon to journey to Iowa for an financial speech, advised reporters that Noem wouldn’t be stepping down.
“I feel she’s completed an excellent job. The border is completely safe,” Trump stated.
However sources described a rift between Noem and Trump’s border czar Tom Homan — a frosty relationship that existed previous to the capturing in Minneapolis.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated Noem is “very comfortable” Homan will probably be overseeing the actions on Minneapolis.
“Secretary Noem will proceed to supervise the Division of Homeland Safety, and he or she could be very comfortable that Tom Homan, who is a superb asset to the president, has a fantastic depth of expertise and perception, will probably be overseeing Minneapolis,” she stated throughout an interview on Fox Information Tuesday morning.
Homan was additionally on the White Home on Monday earlier than heading to Minnesota on the route of Trump — bypassing the conventional chain of command the place Noem and Customs and Border Safety commander-at-large Greg Bovino had been overseeing ICE operations. Bovino is now returning to El Centro, California, to renew his duties as chief of that sector, multiple sources told ABC News.
Trump stated on Monday that Homan would report on to him.
White Home border czar Tom Homan listens to reporters throughout an interview, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz met with Homan on Tuesday morning. The 2 spoke about quite a lot of gadgets, together with a “important discount within the variety of federal forces in Minnesota, and an finish to the marketing campaign of retribution towards Minnesota,” in accordance with the governor’s workplace.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated he met with Homan on Tuesday, calling the dialog “productive” in a sequence of X posts.
Frey stated he made it clear to Homan that “Minneapolis doesn’t and won’t implement federal immigration legal guidelines.”
The choice to ship Homan into the state got here as a reduction to a number of Republicans on Capitol Hill who had personally reached out to the president and different White Home officers straight in regards to the response. Criticism has grown from congressional Republicans over the Pretti capturing and Minnesota ICE operation, with greater than two dozen GOP lawmakers calling for a radical investigation.
An individual aware of the planning stated Homan will possible give attention to extra focused immigration enforcement efforts.
Noem and her high adviser, Lewandowski, have pushed for a tougher line immigration method together with road sweeps. Bovino rankled some who felt his direct reporting to the Homeland Safety secretary was problematic, and bypassed Rodney Scott, the chief of U.S. Customs and Border Safety, sources stated.
“The President’s whole immigration enforcement workforce — together with Secretary Noem and Border Czar Homan — are on the identical web page. They’re working collectively seamlessly to implement the President’s agenda, defend the American individuals, and deport legal unlawful aliens,” White Home spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated in an announcement.
ABC Information’ Isabella Murray contributed to this report.
