Republican Sen. Claps Back At Trump After Being Called a 'Loser': 'Makes Me Qualified To Be DHS Secretary'

Republican Senator Thom Tillis clapped back at President Donald Trump after the latter called him a "loser" over calls for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be fired following the fallout of ICE operations in Minneapolis.

Speaking to press, Tillis was told about Trump's remarks, prompting him to respond that he was "thrilled about that."

"That makes me qualified to be Homeland Security secretary and senior adviser to the president," Tillis added, in reference to Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller, who have emerged as the most visible senior officials tied to the operations in which Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed.

Reporter: The president called you a loser.Republican Senator Thom Tillis: “I am thrilled about that. That makes me qualified to be homeland security secretary and senior adviser to the president.”pic.twitter.com/ziPGZpfOXt

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 28, 2026

Tillis is one of two Republican senators calling for the firing of Noem. The other one is Lisa Murkowski.

Trump reacted to the development, calling them "losers" and "terrible senators." Speaking to ABC News, he said "one is gone and the other should be gone."

"So what Murkowski says – she's always against the Republicans anyway. And Tillis decided to drop out. So you know, he lost his voice once he did that," Trump added.

Across the aisle, a large amount of Democrats have joined previous calls for Noem's removal, with Senator John Fetterman calling on Trump to fire her "immediately."

"Americans have died. She is betraying DHS's core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary," he added in a recent social media publication.

Elsewhere, 120 Democrats in the House of Representatives have signed to co-sponsor an impeachment resolution against her. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Tuesday that if Trump doesn't fire her, he will push ahead on impeachment.

Noem, along with other members of the Trump administration, has denied any wrongdoing by federal immigration agents during the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, going as far as claiming he was the one inciting violence.

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