Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich delivered a revealing report Thursday outlining the factors that reportedly led President Donald Trump to remove Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from her post.
Speaking with anchor Martha MacCallum on The Story, Heinrich explained that sources close to the president described a series of issues that ultimately contributed to the decision.
“I’ve been asking officials here about what went into the president’s thinking,” Heinrich said, noting that speculation about dissatisfaction with Cabinet officials often circulates in Washington without resulting in action. In this case, however, individuals close to the president indicated that multiple concerns accumulated over time.
According to Heinrich, a source familiar with Trump’s thinking described the situation as “a combination of her many unfortunate leadership failures, from Minnesota to the ad campaign, to the allegations of an affair.”
The report also pointed to criticism from several Republican senators who had strongly rebuked Noem or called for her removal. But Heinrich noted that one issue in particular appeared to play a decisive role in pushing the president toward action.
“That ad campaign, though, really tipped the president over the edge,” Heinrich explained during the segment.
The controversy centered on a $200 million advertising campaign authorized by Noem that focused on border security. The ads featured the DHS secretary prominently, including imagery of her on horseback at Mount Rushmore. During testimony before Congress, Noem told lawmakers that the president had approved the campaign.
According to Heinrich’s reporting, however, the president had not authorized it.
The dispute over the ad campaign became a major point of tension and reportedly intensified concerns within the administration about Noem’s leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.
In addition to the advertising controversy, Heinrich reported that rumors surrounding an alleged personal relationship between Noem and Corey Lewandowski also factored into the president’s decision.
Lewandowski, who was serving as a special government employee and advisor, is married. Heinrich noted that reports circulating in recent weeks claimed Noem had attempted to appoint him as her chief of staff. The president, according to the report, blocked that move amid the allegations of an affair.
During testimony on Capitol Hill earlier this week, Noem faced questions under oath about the alleged relationship. Heinrich said that while Noem dismissed the reports as “garbage,” she did not directly deny having sexual relations with Lewandowski.
Following the announcement of Noem’s departure, Heinrich returned later in the program with additional developments regarding Lewandowski’s future at DHS.
“I’m further told that Corey Lewandowski is expected to leave with her,” Heinrich reported.
She explained that Lewandowski’s exit is tied to the same controversy that surrounded Noem’s removal. As a special government employee serving as an advisor to the DHS secretary, his position appears likely to end alongside Noem’s tenure at the department.
However, Heinrich said it remains unclear what “leaving with her” ultimately means. It could involve Lewandowski departing government service entirely, or potentially accompanying Noem to whatever new role she may take on following her removal.
For now, Heinrich said details about Noem’s next position are still being clarified as the administration moves forward with plans to replace her.
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