Mace hits Mullin over Paul spat, calls selection as DHS secretary ‘unreal’

Rep. Nancy Mace criticized Sen. Markwayne Mullin over his public disagreement with Sen. Rand Paul during a congressional hearing on Mullin's nomination as Department of Homeland Security secretary, calling the selection "unreal." The tension between Mullin and Paul surfaced during Wednesday's confirmation hearing, drawing Mace's rebuke for what she characterized as conduct that violated basic standards of conduct. Mullin's nomination for the DHS post—one of the most significant positions in the Trump administration—has now become entangled in internal Republican friction, raising questions about party unity on the confirmation process. Mace's criticism suggests that prominent GOP senators view Mullin's handling of the Paul disagreement as an obstacle to a smooth confirmation. The dynamic underscores potential challenges ahead for Mullin's path to Senate approval and leadership of the nation's primary border security agency.