Trump clashes with DHS Secretary Mullin over ICE policy and personnel

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin Under Fire After Just Four Months

It has been only four months since his appointment, but Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is reportedly falling out of favor with the White House.

According to a senior Trump administration official and a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official who spoke with NBC News Thursday, the rift stems from early missteps and concerns over Mullin's personnel choices.

Policy Reversal on ICE Vehicle Stops Sparks White House Anger

The White House was displeased with Mullin's decision to temporarily restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle stops following two deadly shootings by immigration officers in Texas and Maine.

Just one day after Mullin announced the change—and after another person was killed during a chaotic ICE incident—President Donald Trump ordered the agency to resume traffic stops.

An administration official told NBC News that Mullin's decision was "100 percent" a bad move.

According to reports, Mullin never received the White House's blessing before announcing the sudden policy change, leaving both President Trump and border czar Tom Homan in the dark. Trump was reportedly furious, believing the move signaled the administration was softening on immigration enforcement.

Controversial ICE Nominee Adds to Tensions

Another source of friction between Mullin and the White House is his decision to nominate Lance Schroyer, a political ally, to lead ICE.

The choice has "a lot of people talking," as Schroyer has no direct experience with federal law or immigration enforcement, a DHS official told NBC News. In addition to Schroyer's lackluster résumé, he has also been accused of failing to pay child support.

Several officials "aren't thrilled with him," one Trump administration official told NBC News.

Broader Administration Turnover Concerns

The rising tensions with the newly appointed DHS secretary come as a new report suggests that Trump's second administration is experiencing even higher turnover among Senate-confirmed officials than his first.

Read more about Mullin:

• DHS Sec. Threatens to Jail State Officials Who Defy Trump's Demands

Trump Adds New Conditions to Saudi Nuclear Deal Hours After Signing

President Trump announced major new conditions to his nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia on Thursday morning—just hours after it was signed.

In a Truth Social post, Trump demanded that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords before receiving any U.S. nuclear technology. He also claimed "there will be no enrichment of material," though the deal opens the door to uranium enrichment in the country.

"The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," Trump wrote. "The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities."

Negotiating terms would make sense if the deal had not already been signed—or if the Saudi kingdom had at least hinted at accepting the demands Trump outlined. It has not.

White House Struggles to Explain Contradiction

Trump's post created a stark messaging contradiction for the White House, which is still struggling to explain the terms of the deal.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked to clarify the president's about-face during her Thursday press conference.

"What steps is the U.S. taking to get Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords?" a reporter asked.

Leavitt did not answer the question directly.

"This is a condition that the president has spoken about many times… He wants to see these countries sign the Abraham Accord, it was one of the most historic accomplishments of his first term, and it continues to be a long-term goal of his to expand those accords to ultimately come to a place where the Middle East can be a peaceful and stable region," Leavitt replied.